[Elena]

I would like to plant paths on my allotment between the beds and wondered if it would be possible to use low growing herbs or other plants?  The herbs/plants would require to be robust enough for walking on and would require to be low growing.

Also, I have a small front garden and would like to replace the lawn with a similar arrangement.  Has anyone tried this and if so, which are the best plants to use and would you recommend it?

[Trillium]

Many of the creeping thymes are excellent for paths. They're short and will take abuse from foot traffic. And smell nice. Check at your local garden centre to see what they have, then do propogations for future path extensions.

[Elena]

Thank you for your reply.  Can creeping thyme be planted from seed or would I have to buy it as plants?

[joyfull]

you can grow it from seeds - just type in creeping thyme seeds in google and lots of suppliers come up 

[mumofstig]

I bought this purple thyme

and I think every single seed grew  it's very easy - sown into modules and grown on till big enough to plant out, also sown into sand between the paving slabs.
It's everywhere now

[Elena]

Hi Mumofstig,

Thank you for your reply.  From your experience, do you think the purple thyme would work as paths on the allotment and as a lawn and would you recommend it?

[mumofstig]

It hasn't minded being trodden on in the paving, but how it would like being trodden on as a path on the plot in winter, I don't know. 

[Goosegirl]

I have heard that some people have grown a camomile lawn from the non-flowering Treneague plant, but I got the impression it wasn't as good in real life as it appears in pictures. Also, if you are walking or wheel-barrowing on the herb paths, the ground will get compacted and might not suit them unless you have a sandy soil; but, as Trillium says, the thymes do stand a bit of foot wear.

[Trillium]

I know someone who did a camomile lawn. They're pretty, fragrant, and don't care for traffic. So, thymes are your best result, primarily the really low creeping ones, any colour.

[chrissie B]

i tryed in greece to do camomile in the lawn but the soil was too hard , i did see a seat with it planted into it looked great .
chrissie b