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Coquina garden paths -- a question:
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Posted by meme_mutation 8a/8b SC coast (My Page) on Mon, Mar 15, 04 at 2:44
| I want to make the paths through my gardens with a thick layer of coquina, I like the visual interest provided by all the little shells and it seems appropriate for my gardens to use an abundant local material. Also, it will be quite affordable, I've found coquina priced at about 6 dollars per ton.
What I'm worried about is the limestone paths drastically altering my soil's pH, and consequently turning my yard into some kind of alkaline desert. I have a small yard, so I can't sacrifice any land... I want a path material that will allow healthy plants to grow right to the edge. Will coquina be appropriate? Will the lime leech out with rainwater and cause problems as I have suspected? Does anyone have practical experience with coquina garden paths that they'd like to share for my benefit. ;) Thanks in advance for any assistance.
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Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Coquina garden paths -- a question:
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| Coquina shells are fragile. You would crush them as you walked on them. Soon you would just have a gritty path. I suspect that they would change your soil PH. At least, that's my take of using them. Someone else might have more experience. Mine is from walking on the coquina beaches in Florida. The "sand" is crushed shells which are brought up with each tide and then smashed by people walking. I have seen concrete paving stones and walkways that are made with the shells. You can see the little shells in the mix. I think they are used in the mix instead of lime.
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RE: Coquina garden paths -- a question:
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- Posted by BarbC coastal SC (My Page) on
Tue, Mar 16, 04 at 1:24
| I hate the stuff, myself - such a pain in the - uh... rump? I go with PeaBee... go with pavers that have shells inbedded in them. |
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