Turning Your Driveway into a Garden Path
Monday February 4, 2008
Most gardeners can’t resist the idea of a colorful or fragrant garden right near their entryway. So it seems odd that so many of us completely overlook the span along our driveways. Driveway plantings present their own unique challenges like: car exhaust, not blocking the view when pulling out, leaving room to plow snow and leaving a path from one side of the lawn to the other. But as About.com’s Landscaping Guide, David Beaulieu, explains, “How your driveway entrance is landscaped... sets the tone for the viewer's perception of the whole yard.” Besides, it’s another excuse to buy plants! Here are David’s considerations for landscaping driveways.
Photo: © Marie Iannotti (2008) licensed to About.com, Inc.
Comments
Our driveway is the only full sun planting area on our property and we make the most of it. We built to sizable wooden planter boxes as “pillars” at the entrance that set the color theme. Each season we expand the length of the driveway edge beds as we divide perennials. We use Knock Out roses as anchors and play with colors and combinations with annuals and wild flowers. One caveat: Make sure enough room is left on the side to walk down the driveway along parked cars without having plants drooping onto the walk way. One nice side benefit is I don’t have to edge the driveway! Happy planting!
Along with leaving enough room to walk down the driveway, I’d add - make sure you don’t try to plant in the area of the shortest distance from the drive to the house door. Folks in a hurry will be tempted to try to jump over it.
For those blessed with an acreage, it is just beautiful to see both sides of the driveway planted with Jacarandas. These beautiful trees can grow 20m high and in spring are filled with bright purple flowers. At its peak, you get to drive down a purple carpet driveway.
Just Magic!