What about sidewalk planting,should symmetry play a factor?
I am planning to plant beside my sidewalk,one side is sun,the other part shade,how to choose the correct edging plants,and what about symmetry?
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Answer it!
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May 20, 2009. 6:11 AMcathycarr (author)
says:
Appreciate the advice from you two,I have many plants already. Actually more of a plant collector than a real landscape gardener. A little unsure of where to start with these plantings around my new home. It is a patterned colored concrete,so needs to be sealed occasionally. Figured that meant I needed to choose a variety that would edge,but not cover it. I have mother of thyme,ajuga, sedum,and stonecrop, to pick from,already growing in my yard. My concern was putting different plants on each side and still making it look pleasing to the eye. All advice is welcome,I am open to all suggestions.
Chrys is right - Talk to your local garden centre about which plants prefer sun and shade. I prefer an informal look to gardens so I'd tend to stay away from symmetry and choose low growing plants which would grow over the edges and break up the hard straight outlines of the path. Depending on how far it goes back, you could have an intermediate and then a taller section at the back, but mix up heights and colours so it doesn't look regimented. Plant in drifts rather than in rows or as individual plants. Of course, two dead straight rows of precisely clipped plants are some peoples' idea of beauty.
Your best bet would be to visit a local garden centre and ask which edging plants work best in sun or shade.
In terms of symmetry, if you plant the same plants on both sides then one side will grow better than the other, thus ruining the symmetry.
You can try to get similar size, shape and colour plants for both sides, but suited for the specific light recuirements (which may be tricky, since shade plants aren't always as vibrant as the full sun plants). Plant placement can also create a feeling of symmetry too. Though symmetry creates balance and harmony, a more asymmetrical or informal garden can still be very pleasing to the eye.
If you search Google for sun or shade edging plants, you may get a few ideas, and you can sketch a plan on where to place them. Here are a few links, that I've found:
http://gardendesignsbymaryjobuza.com/ga-4-2.shtml
http://www.gardenguides.com/how-to/tipstechniques/planning/edgings.asp
In terms of symmetry, if you plant the same plants on both sides then one side will grow better than the other, thus ruining the symmetry.
You can try to get similar size, shape and colour plants for both sides, but suited for the specific light recuirements (which may be tricky, since shade plants aren't always as vibrant as the full sun plants). Plant placement can also create a feeling of symmetry too. Though symmetry creates balance and harmony, a more asymmetrical or informal garden can still be very pleasing to the eye.
If you search Google for sun or shade edging plants, you may get a few ideas, and you can sketch a plan on where to place them. Here are a few links, that I've found:
http://gardendesignsbymaryjobuza.com/ga-4-2.shtml
http://www.gardenguides.com/how-to/tipstechniques/planning/edgings.asp
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