Evergreen Perennial Sidewalk Edging

I live in South Central Pa. I have a long, straight brick sidewalk that leads from the road to my front door. It is on the north side of the house but recieves full sun. The house is a cream color and there are very few colored flowers in the landscape. However, we have green shrubs to include a couple holly plants along the front of the house. I cleared about a12-18 inch planter on each side of the sidewalk in order to plant something. I just don't know what. I want some color and I want it to be interesting year round. I also need it to be low maintenance. I have considered just going with one plant such as a creeping phlox or mixing it up with different textures. Any advice is appreciated. Right now, I have empty beds just waiting to be filled. Thanks.

Welcome Robee!

Do you have a picture of the area...that makes it easier to suggest plants.

You'll prob want to mix it, if you want the creeping phlox...which is pretty in spring and then not so much the rest of the year(and a real pain when grass or weeds start growing thru it)
I usually start looking by using the advanced search on Gardening company websites like Bluestone or Garden Crossings

http://www.bluestoneperennials.com/b/bp/results_pics.html
http://www.gardencrossings.com/index.cfm

Welcome Robee, Londonderry isn't too far from our place.
Well it is too late for spring bulbs but you can easily plant those this fall so that you have spring color daff, tulips and crocus. I like creeping phlox but once it finishes blooming it is all green. I like asters, mums and tall sedums for fall color. Maybe a few small or dwarf shrubs or evergreens for winter interest. Lilies are good for summer color and then add in some annuals. Alyssum is a good substitute for creeping phlox, low growing and blooms all summer but it is an annual so it needs to be replanted. I like a repeating pattern for a long walk way.

I like both alyssum ( long lasting in fall but not evergreen of course) and creeping phlox. I have two big patches of creeping phlox by my front door. I love it for the couple weeks a year and then trim up the edges and shear back the longer stems and let it be. Yeah watch out for grass. The alyssum could be placeholders for this summer while you let some perennials grow in.

Some dianthus are evergreen? Not familiar but I have seen that. Nice tidy spiky bluegreen mounds.
My 'bigroot geranium' is nearly evergreen, the foliage 'colors' in fall and it is a tough plant!

Variegated Liriope can be used for the foliage color as an easy tidy edge or clumps. Mostly evergreen but older ratty leaves get trimmed in spring, about now when the new ones are starting. It does not run the way some green Liriope does. Green Liriope too, could be used as clumps or could fill space but will be just green with some not-that-showy purple spikes and black berries. I think variegated gives you much more bang for the buck.

Good warning on the phlox. I am not a big fan of weeding and there will be no physical barrier between the bed and grass. I actually did consider the variegated Liriope. I like the repeating pattern idea. Now I just have to think of a pattern. I will go to the links provided and do some research. I have already spent a bit of time on classygroundcovers.

Hi Robee,

The only ground cover that has worked for me as far as choking out weeds are the ajugas. There are several different varieties, depending on which color leaves you like best, because, like th phlox, the flowers only last a little while. I have the Ajuga Burgundy Glow and Ajuga Black Scallop


Plant Files DG

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/250501/ Ajuga Black Scallop

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/7704/ Ajuga Burgundy Glow