Hello, Swaymak.

deviant_designer offered a very creative suggestion for making a path in an existing asphalt area. See the Aug. 13 curb appeal post.

Nice looking raised beds.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but there is little that you top off the asphalt with that is inexpensive and have it wear well and look great.

The least expensive material would be mulch and that would just wear too messy .
Then you step up to crushed gravel and it would have to be retained to keep from spreading out , so it too would wear messy and there would need to be some construction accommodations made for the elevation levels.

Personally I find asphalt a benign product that is inexpensive to install and maintain.
But if you do not like it you might think about removing it or parts of it .
It usually is very easy to remove. The amount shown in the photo would come out in a matter of minutes after the edges and borders were cold cut.

If it were my property I might cut out a ribbon and lay in a mosaic band or matching brick or tile band at the entry to the raised bed courtyard and leave the field of the asphalt.
Next to the house I would probably have 2 or 3 raised narrow boxes built so to soften the field of the asphalt where it meet the side of the house.

I'll attach a photo of a project that we did a few years ago where we removed the asphalt and installed an exposed aggregate concrete and stone mosaic band. It might pique your imagination to some ways that you could work with your own asphalt challenge.

Swaymak- a bit of clarification, please. Do you intend to extend your gardening efforts further back along the driveway or is what your picture shows the end? Also, I have an inexpensive thought which might work if you would share your growing zone, north or south? Snow perhaps?

Quick note to Mitch who posted today a teasing section of what I consider to be one of her best designs, problem solving a difficult site. It was featured on one of the TV gardening shows and hopefully she will provide the link.

Thanks so much for the responses! I was away over the weekend and am delighted to come back to some ideas.

@Nandina: I am in the snowy part of Canada, so this will all be buried 4 months of every year (CAD zone 5; US zone 4). And this will be the end of the driveway gardening for now, although I can steal an extra bit of space to build an "entry way" to the box area if needed. Would love to hear your thoughts!

@deviant-deziner: Thanks for the nice photo, but I don't have the cash to get a professional in on this project at the moment, so am looking for DIY solutions (and removal of asphalt is definitely beyond me). I'll keep the ribbon idea in mind for later though, since I think that would look really nice. The old asphalt is painful on the feet which is one of the reasons I'd like to cover it with something. I wondered about some kind of edging (wooden? brick? asphalt?) that would keep mulch or stone from spreading. Or maybe some kind of recycled rubber runners? Any ideas? And yes, I am also planning on putting plants along the house to narrow the slice of asphalt...am thinking maybe a bunch of pots rather than more planters.

Hope to hear from you again!

For those on a tight budget I have used the interlocking colorful rubber mats that you can purchase from most big box stores .

If the client has a decent budget and or is conscience about aesthetics I have used Ecosurfaces.com - Love their product color range.

Photo of ecosurfaces on a deck :

Swaymak, viewing your picture leads me to believe that you have a good sense of design, texture, color and enjoy the process of interior design. Why not continue this concept in your asphalt garden using inexpensive, colorful outdoor rugs purchased at box stores. Easily cleaned, easily rolled and stored during the winter months. Would solve your immediate visual need in a fairly small space until the piggy bank is replenished allowing a permanent solution.

Thanks! I love both the rubber mat and the outdoor rugs idea, and eco-surfaces looks really great - the photo of your work is beautiful, deviant-deziner!

Do you think I can place rugs or rubber or ecosurface directly onto the asphalt? Any suggestions for a suitable adhesive for such an uneven surface and a way to anchor the outer edge?

And I'm not totally sure what kind of cheaper inter-locking rubber mats might work...I've been looking for something for a while and the best I can see are the kids play-mats...I'm sure I'm missing something - any links?

Your comments so far have been very encouraging...thanks to you both! I'm excited to get this section finished up!

Ooh, I really like the ecosurfaces material. Reminds me of Flor, which I have always admired.

A few other options:
A rubber walkway
http://www.gardeners.com/recycled-rubber-walkway/37-994,default,pd.html?start=3&cgid=EdgingMulches_Mulches

Rubber "brick" pavers
http://www.gardeners.com/recycled-rubber-brick-paver-mats/37-563,default,pd.html?start=19&q=path

Either of these have the potential to look cheesy because they are one material posing as another. But the idea is on the right track.

Interlocking wooden deck tiles
http://www.builddirect.com/Interlocking-Deck-Tiles.aspx

Just some ideas!

Here is a link to some very nice looking outdoor carpets :
http://www.pottedstore.com/pottedstore/potted.cgi?preadd=action&key=ST-795

I have a nice looking bamboo carpet in the outdoor dining area and it has held up nicely for 3 summers ( I store it inside in the rainy winter season and apply a light tung oil to it in the spring ) Found it at Target.

The rubber mats that I have used from Home Depot are brightly colored.
We've used Liquid Nails to adhere them to concrete pavers that were set under a swing set , where the playground fiber was being worn away .