That strip between the sidewalk and the road
Wizbeth
20 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (26)
trudi_d
20 years agoWizbeth
20 years agoRelated Discussions
Is it worth mulching a tree in the strip between sidewalk/street?
Comments (40)Complete agreement ^^^. The one that gets me is when I hear about Norway spruce as an "invasive". Ugh! Of course, NS is one of my favorite species, period, but still, what's it hurting? Would a native white spruce have occupied that spot otherwise? Possible, but sketchy to the point of meaninglessness. There is also language in many a treatise on prairie management wherein perfectly fine native species are labelled invasive. That is, to my point of view, a failure to grasp the system level of plant communities to include the fourth dimension-time. As if prairies, at least in my state, would have ever been anything but a temporary result of major disturbance, before woody species make their return. Nowhere in my area would there EVER have been fires every two ro three years, to maintain that plant community. Sorry for yelling, lol. I have to install prairies as "native vegetation" around our many stormwater detention ponds. It's a cool plant community, and serves a number of purposes in this application. I just hate how it has been anointed as "The" native plant community. This area was nearly all wooded or wetland. There, I' ve probably managed to throw everyone off this thread that was interested in the OT! Sorry. +oM...See MoreTrees for planting strip in sidewalk
Comments (14)I agree with the people who suggested that you avoid the Chinese elm. There's one in my front yard that is gigantic. My husband and I have talked about removing it, but we're afraid to find out what it would cost, so we haven't even asked. We do have to get it pruned every couple of years, though--our tree guy says not to prune it too much because that would spur it on to put out even more unsightly shoots. As far as a pistache goes, I wanted to plant one, but our landscape designer said that it can also get huge. We planted several arbutus instead and they are beautiful all year round and need very little pruning and no summer water. Not sure how they'd do in a planting strip though. Checking with city public works sounds like a very good idea....See MoreDrought tolerant sidewalk strip garden ideas.
Comments (7)Check out the reviews of "Sedum Acre Gold Moss" at the Dave's Garden website. You would only need a few clumps to start. It will grow extremely fast & fill the areas you are describing. I don't believe it will be invasive as it will be contained by curbing on one side & sidewalks on the other. I grew some in southeast CT, zone 6 at the street end of a long flower bed and it was very hardy, but not invasive. The sedum was one of the few plants that would tolerate the road salt & sand every winter. It's very pretty when in bloom....See Morequestions: foxgloves & trident maples
Comments (2)When you say the foxgloves have "petered out", I'll assume you mean they have stopped flowering. Some foxgloves are biennials and some are short lived perennials. Also, some biennials can actually live for three or more years. If the variety you have is biennial and the plants have set seed fairly heavily, then they probably will die soon. It's hard to predict without knowing what variety you have. If your plants look healthy, just leave them there for now and see what happens. It's too hot right now to plant much in their place anyway. How big are your maples? Are the branches that are drooping permanent branches or lower than the branches you want to keep when the tree matures? Have you got pictures? Without more information, I can't say for sure what I would do, but right now, I'm leaning more towards leaving them alone and letting the tree do what trees do naturally. It sounds like drop-crotch pruning is not an option anyway since foliage is only present at the tip of each main branch....See MoreIna Plassa_travis
20 years agosunshinedydrm
20 years agotrudi_d
20 years agolazy_gardens
20 years agoWizbeth
20 years agoJudy_B_ON
20 years agoJudy_B_ON
20 years agoCindyBelleZ6NJ
20 years agoearthworm
20 years agoDLoftus
20 years agoTexas_RoseFairy
20 years agoteri2
20 years agodavissue_zone9
20 years agoIstanbuljoy
20 years agomyrtle18
20 years agoloniesmom
20 years agoWizbeth
20 years agoKatagious
20 years agoXtreehuggerX
20 years agocherylsnj
20 years agolacytv
18 years agoDrynDusty
18 years agoJohn Dumas
16 years ago
Related Stories
CURB APPEALTake Your Hell Strip to Heavenly Heights: 8 Design Ideas
Trade weedy dirt and trash for a parking strip filled with wispy grasses, low-growing flowers and textural trees
Full StoryFARM YOUR YARDHow to Farm Your Parking Strip
Get an up-close look at a thriving street-side edible garden, one of many sprouting up in Seattle
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGN4 Gorgeous Garden Looks for a Narrow Planting Strip
Make a strong design statement in an unexpected place with these ideas for perimeter plantings, pocket gardens and more
Full StoryFUN HOUZZGardening Happiness Found ... in Potholes
Imperfections in roads and sidewalks become miniature works of art — and unlikely sources of joy — at the hands of a London gardener
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGN6 Suggestions for Harmonious Hardscaping
Help a sidewalk, driveway or path flow with your garden design, for a cohesive and pleasing look
Full StoryGARDENING AND LANDSCAPINGDIY Pathway Puts Landscapes on the Right Track
Create a road more traveled in your backyard, and save your lawn from foot traffic, with this easy, affordable gravel path
Full StoryFARM YOUR YARDHow to Build a Raised Bed for Your Veggies and Plants
Whether you’re farming your parking strip or beautifying your backyard, a planting box you make yourself can come in mighty handy
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESGreat Design Plant: Bouteloua Gracilis
Resilient blue grama grass thrives in sunny meadows and parking strips in the western U.S.
Full StoryMONTHLY HOME CHECKLISTSDecember Checklist for a Smooth-Running Home
It's time to add weather stripping, plan for holiday home safety, consider backup heating, check your emergency kits and more
Full StoryMOST POPULAR15 Remodeling ‘Uh-Oh’ Moments to Learn From
The road to successful design is paved with disaster stories. What’s yours?
Full Story
loniesmom