Ideas on plants that can tolerate....

Hi all, I am wanting to plant along my sidewalk and along the street and need some ideas of what can handle being walked on and being hit by basketballs. I have 3 kids and we spend a lot of time outside in the nice weather, so it needs to be able to handle all of that, and bicycles, and scooters, etc....And if there is such a thing that can be mowed when my son isn't paying attention that will come back quickly! LOL Something short in nature, scented would be great, and that is also ok to walk on barefoot. Any suggestions and ideas will be greatly appreciated! Thanks for any advice you have to offer. :)

There's a line of groundcovers called Stepables that were designed to be able to handle some foot traffic. Here's a link to their website, if you go into the plant search you can put in some parameters and it'll tell you which ones might work for you. You don't necessarily have to buy the plants from them, just find out the names and then you can probably get that same plant from many different sources. Just make sure you get the same species/cultivar that they list. http://www.stepables.com/plantinfo.htm

Thanks ecrane, I will go check it out! Will take me longer on this pooter as our other one decided it wanted to sleep again for a while! This one is very slow, but at least we have a spare!:)

Hi Misty, cant say that any plants will be cycle, ball proof or lawnmower proof, but a great way to cover that area and you can walk on it is the one called Creeping Thyme, it smells great when crushed, has nice dainty little flowers and spreads along the ground (not the cooking Thyme but from the same family) some folks over here have torn up their lawns and used this plant instead because it dont require cutting every week, but maybe every few months once it gets going, that way you keep the flowering and keep it neat, but dont use a lawn mower unless it is one of those Hover Mowers and set the blades high, one friend uses a line strimmer for hers, but it is not a huge area she has started with this plant. Lavenders would be good to as you can get the ones that are shorter in size. good luck. WeeNel.

Thanks WeeNel! That is actually one of them on the thread the ecrane posted! :) I want something that is tough and smells good! LOL

Hi Misty,
I have a lot of the same activities going on here and Creeping Jenny has been the answer for me. It's colorful, easy to maintain, bug and disease resistant, cheap, fast growing, drought tolerant and soft on the feet. Sound too good to be true? It is....the drawback is it is invasive and difficult to remove when you want a change. But if you think the kids will be around a while and you want to plant something that either stays all year or at the very least reliably returns, you can't go wrong with CJ. Talk with you soon!
Chris

I would recommend these groundcovers:

1. Variegated Liriope
2. Big Blue Liriope
3. Creeping Jenny (as stated)
4. Creeping Thyme (as stated)
5. Periwinkle (Vinca major or minor)
6. Ivy
7. Pachysandra
8. Irish Moss (moist, part shade, well draining soil)
9. Ajuga
10. Dwarf Plumbago
11. Algerian Ivy
12. Blue Rug Juniper
13. Dwarf Juniper (Juniperus procumbens 'Nana')

Hi all, thanks for all your ideas! Sorry it has taken me so long, but bad weather last night and more to come I am afraid! That, and my oldest broke his hand in wrestling practice yesterday so we had to get him taken care of! Hope all are safe that are in the way of this weather! Also, using an old puter right now and it is AWFUL!

Yeah, Misty, that was some storm we had last night. I was up most of the night emptying containers that collected water pouring, and I mean POURING down from my skylight. Hope your sons hand heals quickly. It should, he has youth on his side. Sounds like you're very busy right now. If you decide to give the creeping jenny a try, I have some to share. It should ship pretty easily. Keep it in mind and let me know if you are intersted when spring rolls around. Take care.
Chris

Hi Chris! :) Yes, it was a NASTY storm! Of course I was the only one it kept awake. LOL Sorry to hear about your buckets from the sky light! ER Doc called last night and there is a good possibility surgery will be needed because of where it is broken. :( Thanks on the CJ, I might just take you up on that! :)

Oh Misty, it never rains but it pours as they say, really hope your sons hand gets set and fixed up fast, they probably want to put a pin in the bone to knit it all together for better healing, we have so many small bones in our hands and feet, bet you will spoil him rotten, we Mums are a soft touch eh, they are young and heal quick, but then it's our nerves that take most of the beatings, We also had the mother of all storms hear in Scotland, came right off the sea and as I have mentioned, I live right on the shore, no protection, thought my conservatory was going to end up in Timbucktoo, I lay in bed and watched my dressing table mirror shake every time the wind hit the house/windows and the dresser dont even sit close to the window, there was a silver lining though, the storm dimmed the sound of my husband snoring all through it, that is the man who all those years ago said he would lay down his life for me and the kids, YEH, right, just so long as he dont have to lay his life down through a nightmare storm he he he. hope everything works out for your boy, take care. WeeNel.

Thanks, WeeNel! It is more his girlfriend who is spoiling him, because, of course, she comes first! LOL Now on Tuesday after the surgery, I am sure it will be Mommy that he wants! My nerves are just shot and I am mentally and physically exhausted. I worry about the anesthetic, because anything can happen. :( He has very little pain, though, which is nice. Again, I am sure that will change come Tuesday. I hope you all are getting better weather now and nothing is shaking inside the house! I would have been freaking out and waking my DH up, snoring or not! LOL
Take Care, Tammy

Hi Misty! I like using clover instead of grass. It's cheap, tough, pretty and it smells good too. Don't let into your flower beds!
Adele

Hey there, Digger! My luck that is exactly where it would end up! LOL

I know what you mean:) I find clover to be invasive, even aggressive, but controllable. Let me know what you choose.

I am thinking of some of the Creeping Jenny that Chris offered, and maybe some sort of sedum.

Sounds good to me. I think I'm going to try some Creeping Jenny too.