Honestly, I’m right there with you on microclover. It’s hyped as some miracle fix, but in my experience, it’s just “okay” for high-traffic spots.
Same deal here—my kids and the dog make short work of any patch, micro or not. For the price of seed, I expected more.“The microclover patches in my yard still get worn down pretty fast where there’s constant movement.”
On the mulch paths, edging is a must if you want any hope of keeping things tidy. I used leftover pavers and it’s not perfect, but way better than chasing mulch all over the yard every week. At this point, I’d rather spend a little up front than keep buying bags of mulch that end up everywhere but the path.
Pavers make a world of difference for keeping mulch in check—totally agree there. I tried using just a trench edge once and it was a disaster after the first rain. Mulch everywhere, and the dog thought it was a new digging spot. Have you ever tried mixing in flagstone or brick with the pavers? I found that breaking up the pattern a bit helps with runoff and looks less “cookie-cutter.” Curious if anyone’s had luck with groundcovers between stones that can actually handle foot traffic... I’m still searching for something tougher than microclover.
Curious if anyone’s had luck with groundcovers between stones that can actually handle foot traffic... I’m still searching for something tougher than microclover.
- Tried creeping thyme between flagstones—looked great, but honestly, it didn’t love the constant trampling.
- Irish moss held up a bit better, but it’s picky about drainage.
- Mixing brick and pavers does break up the look, but I found brick gets slippery when wet. Maybe not ideal if you’ve got kids or pets running around.
- Haven’t found the perfect groundcover yet either... if you do, let me know!
Tough finding something that doesn’t just turn to mush with regular use. I’ve had some luck with blue star creeper, but it’s not totally foolproof either—gets patchy in spots if the dogs are tearing around. One thing I learned the hard way: prepping the soil underneath really makes a difference. Did you try sand or gravel under your stones? Sometimes I wonder if drainage is half the battle with these groundcovers.
I’ve actually been wondering about the sand vs gravel thing myself—does one work better than the other for drainage, or is it just personal preference? I tried laying down some sand under my stepping stones, but honestly, I’m not sure it made a huge difference. The spots where my dog likes to run still get pretty trashed. Maybe I didn’t use enough, or maybe it’s more about how compacted the soil is underneath? Curious if anyone’s had luck with a specific layering method.