Good Plants for a Living Border Around the Vegetable Garden

This topic has 8 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 8 years, 6 months ago by Hummer.

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August 18, 2011 at 7:24 pm #255567

Joe_Bananas_01
Member

Hello all,

I have been given a bunch of narrow concrete blocks and when I stack them on their sides, they are about the same height and thickness as a wooden sleeper – however, they are narrow in the centre.

I’m going to install them as a border to my vegetable beds and plant something in the hollow centre. Besides raising the vegie bed, the idea is that it’ll look good and attract pollinators to the vegetables.

Does anyone have any suggestions for plants that I should use in the concrete hollows?

I was thinking of alyssum because you can get perennial varieties, it will spill nicely over the sides and will attract plenty of pollinators.

All other suggestions are welcome!

Thanks!

JB

August 18, 2011 at 8:12 pm #506039

froot_loopz
Member

Id grow marigolds but thats only coz they are my favourites, or calendulas, I THINK some are edible

August 18, 2011 at 8:44 pm #506040

Bobbee
Member

:wave:

Nasty Urchins (nasturtiums)

calendulas

allysum

thyme

prostrate rosemary

winter and summer savoury

land cress

strawberrys

Bobbs :hug: :hug: :hug:

August 18, 2011 at 10:44 pm #506041

df418
Member

JB

you don’t mention where you are.

We used “besser” blocks around a bed in sydney and everything we planted in the hollow centre fried.

David

August 18, 2011 at 11:00 pm #506042

Hummer
Keymaster

df418 post=321143 wrote: JB

you don’t mention where you are.

We used “besser” blocks around a bed in sydney and everything we planted in the hollow centre fried.

David

Maybe you could plant cacti and succulents in this situation then ?

I wonder how comfrey would go in this situation ? I would be inclined to try it.. very little, if anything kills comfrey :tup:

August 18, 2011 at 11:04 pm #506043

dianne
Participant

Humbug post=321148 wrote:

JB

very little, if anything kills comfrey :tup: [/color]

except me i seam to have a nack for it:whistle: :blush:

August 18, 2011 at 11:07 pm #506044

veggie boy
Member

My border (not in blocks) is lemongrass and then comfrey on the outside of that. Not bee attracters, but my 2 cents worth all the same.

August 19, 2011 at 2:04 pm #506045

Anja
Member

I would think comfrey roots are to big for such a small space?? What about annual herbs like basil, coriander, spinach?? Flowers – definitely calendular and yes, they are edible! If you want really bright colours, petunia or pansies, or more subtle colous, violas….

August 19, 2011 at 2:13 pm #506046

Hummer
Keymaster

It will obviously curb the comfrey from spreading, but the tap root would travel down into the sub soil, like it always does and it would survive. Providing you put a small enough piece in to begin with.
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