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If you’ve already given up on growing something nice in the area between the sidewalk and curb, take a second look.
What is a hellstrip?
Hellstrip is a rather evocative word for the area between the street and sidewalk or driveway that is nearly impossible to keep verdant. Plants in a hellstrip, also known as a parking strip garden and boulevard garden, can suffer from drought, excess heat, root competition, salinity from road salting, and car exhaust. A hellstrip is really not a friendly place for plants. People will often struggle for years to keep grass alive; but if you don't want landscaping rocks, what can you do?
Happy Soil
For starters, you need to amend the soil. Soil full of organic material will better retain water and nutrients for plants in that desolate location. You could till in compost, make a raised bed, topdress with amendments, or build a lasagna bed. You'll also want to remove weeds and grass from the area to give new roots a fighting chance. If you have street trees planted in the hellstrip, a raised bed is advised.
Once the soil is amenable, you must pick out the right plants. You should look for plants that are drought tolerant or xeric, which can usually survive just about anything. Check out this list for some suggestions:
Plants for your Boulevard Garden
These plants are extremely tough and can thrive through drought, excessive heat, salinity, and just about any other abuse your hellstrip can throw at them.
As you put in drought-tolerant plants, make sure that you mulch to help the soil maintain adequate moisture. Most of the suggested plants will survive with little to no extra water, but moisture preservation with mulch will surely help. You can use commercial mulch or make your own using pine needles, straw or rocks. Be sure not to mulch too closely to the crown of your plants to prevent rotting. Remember that most drought-tolerant plants like well draining soil and do not need to have wet feet.
Before you dig
Some municipalities have restrictions on what homeowners can do with their hellstrip. Often the land is actually city-owned and therefore city-governed. Most places will allow you to landscape, but have strict regulations on plant height for safety reasons. Make sure you have underground utilities marked and consult city ordinances before you dig.
When you begin to successfully use the formerly wasted space of the hellstrip, you can transform your landscape with welcoming curb appeal. Plant the right plants the first time and they (and you) won't languish in the tough conditions any longer. You really can have a colorful and thriving hellstrip planting.
Photo credits:
Tanager Gazania - Alicewho
Manzanita - Grasmussen
Bluebeard - KMAC
Russian Sage - Secludedgardens
Pineleaf Penstemon - Altagardener
Hummingbird Trumpet - Growin
Rosemary - Knotimpaired
Cinquefoil - Sneirish
Apache Plume - Angele
Mojave Sage - Happenstance
CA Poppy - Mustangman826
Silver Buffaloberry - Trilian15
Yarrow 'Paprika' - Colliwobbles
Blue Fescue - Hczone6
Sand Cherry - Plant Select.org
Snow in Summer - Weezingreens
Prairie Coneflower - Creekwalker
Ice Plant - JamesCo
Lead Plant - Garbanzito
Thumbnail of house - morguefile, gracey
Sea Holly - Gabrielle
Trailing Lantana - Joeswife
Contoneaster - Ron_rothman
Red Yucca - WynnAnderson/Chihuahuan Desert Garden
Sidewalk with Cannas - morguefile photojock
About Susanne Talbert
I garden in beautiful Colorado Springs, half a mile from Garden of the Gods. Since we bought our first house two years ago, I have been busy revamping my 1/4 acre of ignored decomposed granite.
My garden passions include water gardening, vines, super-hardy perennials, and native xerics. By day, I am a high school ceramics teacher as well as a ceramicist and painter.
