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Advice on driveway divider plants #771090

Asked September 07, 2021, 3:17 PM EDT

My neighbor and I share a driveway with a narrow strip down the middle. Years ago a French drain was installed on the flat part (it's covered with stones); the part closer to the sidewalk that slopes down (just where the drain drains water) is full of weeds. We plan to remove the weeds and replace them with succulents that are robust and can take lots of sun in summer, an occasional tire track, and water in winter that will come from the drain. We were thinking that sedums and creeping thyme might be good candidates. Can you advise? Do you have other ideas? Also, shall we plant in soil but mulch with gravel in order to promote winter drainage? Any advice on soil prep would also be most welcome, as would how far apart to place the plants within the strip. Attached are photos for reference. Thanks so much.

Multnomah County Oregon

Expert Response

Thank you for your question.  Some of your ideas won't work with others, so you're going to have to decide whether you want groundcover plants, impermeable stones, or gravel.  A combination of all three might involve removing the weeds, covering the area between the driveways with cement pavers with holes in the structure, and applying a hormone such as that contained in Preen to prevent seeds from germinating.  I'd suggest waiting until late fall or early spring to plant species that are advertised as being hardy enough to survive an occasional tire.  Creeping thyme is an example, but there are many others.  (I have creeping jenny in a similar spot.)   This OSU Extension publication has good ideas about grasses, as well as a photo of the cement blocks I referenced:  What is the best driveway grass? | OSU Extension Service (oregonstate.edu)  Lots of options!  Good luck!

An Ask Extension Expert Replied September 07, 2021, 6:59 PM EDT

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