Parking Strip Ideas

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Cre8tvspirit Bowling Green, KY Mar 30, 2008

Last year, we got new sidewalks installed in front of the house. When they were finishing them, I asked the workers to forgo planting grass in the strip between the walk and the street so I could plant flowers. I dutifully planted a mix of annuals and perineals and awaited the results. Wouldn't you know it, we proceeded to have a horrendous drought with very strict water restrictions and very little survived the summer. The only thing that is there now is one lonely clump of lavender. I'm planning on starting over this year and am looking for ideas for something that can withstand the heat of being out there next to the asphalt all summer. Ideas? On most maps we're located in 6b.

Thanks!

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ecrane3 Dublin, CA(Zone 9a) Mar 30, 2008

Check out High Country Gardens website...I believe they sell a preplanned garden specifically designed to do well in parking strips. You don't have to buy theirs obviously (especially since some of the plants may not be hardy in your zone) but it'll give you some ideas for things that will do well. The trouble is that even drought tolerant plants need a decent amount of water at least for their first year, so if you have the horrendous drought again and can't water things then you may lose a bunch again.

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terrimckyd Omaha, NE(Zone 5a) Mar 31, 2008

I have had very good results with 'dwarf' russian sage underplanted with ranunculus 'Buttered Popcorn'. The groundcover ranunculus can be invasive in a different setting, but is very contained between the sidewalk and street. It sends up yellow buttercup flowers about the time the russian sage has pretty spring gray-blue leaves, and the new foliage of the ranunculus is variegated with yellow. Soon the sage blooms and you can shear it over and over as the summer goes on forcing a nice shape and new blooms. Both will be resistant to drought and heat. I live in Omaha, NE with hot, humid & dry summers!

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cathy4 St. Louis County, MO(Zone 5a) Apr 04, 2008

This might be a good place to use water crystals. I've started using them and it has cut down on the need to water by at least half. Everything did better last year despite our dry summer.

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