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Old 15-07-2011, 02:16 AM posted to rec.gardens
Brooklyn1 Brooklyn1 is offline
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First recorded activity by GardenBanter: Sep 2010
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Default Best ground cover to walk on?

"David Hare-Scott" wrote:
David E. Ross wrote:
David Hare-Scott wrote:
Don Wiss wrote:
We have a new street tree in front. NYC's standard tree pit size is
now 4-1/2 x 9 feet. It is right along the curb. With nine feet along
the curb there will be people getting out of cars and into the pit.

So what ground cover can take this the best? It would seem to me
that myrtle/perrywinkle would be better than English ivy, which
would be better than pachysandra.

Other plants (e.g. spring bulbs) could be added further from the
curb.

If people are going to walk on it often then there is none that will
look good all year round and many that will never look very good.
Pave it.


Don't pave it. Eventually, the tree will outgrow its hole in the
paving. Furthermore, rain and snow will run off and not irrigate the
tree; and tree roots might suffer from a lack of oxygen in the soil.

Consider pea gravel, coarser gravel, or rounded river stones. These
just lie on the soil and allow water and air to penetrate. Another
alternative is unmortared bricks in a basket-weave or herringbone
pattern. All of these prevent mud from being tracked out of the area
or from ensnaring someone's shoes.


Better.


WTF are you... Mr. Good Houskeeping... how presumptuous that you think
anyone needs your seal of approval. What a pompous pontificating know
nothing.