by Cindy Roberston, Extension Master Gardener; Photos by Cindy Robertson
For many years I ignored the planting strip between my sidewalk and the road at the side of my house, colloquially called the “hell strip.” Hell strips are aptly named due to their often infertile, cement-like soil further degraded by passing dogs and street spray. I decided it was time for a change – no more parched-brown mix of sod and crabgrass for me!
Early this spring, I transformed my hell strip into a native plant garden. My motivation was three-fold: (1) fix the unsightly mess; (2) increase the number of native plants in my yard; (3) improve the soil and drainage. A hell strip makeover also seemed a much more manageable “Do-It-Yourself” starter project than transforming my entire front and side yard into a native plant garden, which has been my dream since learning about the benefits and beauty of native plants.
This article offers my personal tips after having completed this project. Overall, I am very pleased with the results. With time, my strip will look even better as the plants grow in. The encouraging and appreciative compliments from passers-by helped inspire my work and started some great conversations about the benefits of native plants.
Timing is Everything
I originally started this project last fall (normally a great time to plant) and got nowhere because the soil was impenetrable following a hot, dry summer. By March, following a relatively wet winter and early spring, my shovel sank easily into the turf, which was soft but not dripping wet. Avoid digging in sopping wet soil because it will be extra heavy and will cause soil compaction, reducing the underground pockets of air that roots enjoy.
Helpful Tools
A big shovel and a wheelbarrow are key. It’s also nice to have a skinny, rod-like tool (such as a dandelion weeder) to dig right next to the curb and between those crevices on curbs and sidewalks. A hand trowel is handy for digging holes for the new plantings once the soil is prepped.
Plan in Advance
What will you do with the sod you dig up?
My two hell strips each measure about 36 feet by 18 inches (long and skinny). That space created probably five large wheelbarrows of sod for each hell strip (10 wheelbarrows total). I composted the relatively weed-free sod in the two back corners of my yard, which are hidden behind plantings. I took the time to place the sod grass-side down (great source of nitrogen!) to expose the roots and minimize re-rooting. You can also cover the sod with other yard waste or mulch. My weedy sod went into my yard waste bin collected by the City of Alexandria. Thankfully, Alexandria’s commercial compost service achieves temperatures high enough to kill weeds.
Design what to plant in the strip.
My goal was to create a beautiful garden in a long, skinny strip. I contemplated planting just one low ground cover but then decided I wanted more variety of plants, leaf texture, and flower color in a symmetrical pattern from the middle of each strip. I intentionally found low maintenance, native, perennial spreaders that like full or part sun, grow no higher than 18 inches, and are critter and deer resistant. Here’s my plan:
- GO = Golden Oregano (Origanum vulgare ‘Aureum’) (herb, non-native) Bright yellow to chartreuse foliage with small, lavender purple flowers in summer.
- PLS = Purple Lyre-leaf sage (Salvia lyrata ‘Purple Knockout’) (native) Basal rosettes are tinged purple; taller stems with pale blue to lavender flowers emerge in spring.
- SH = Self-heal (Prunella vulgaris) (native) Low-growing herb with violet flowers that bloom in the summer; has egg-shaped green leaves that are 1 to 4 inches long.
- A = Artemisia (Artemisia ‘Powis Castle’) (non-native) This hybrid is drought-tolerant, adaptable, and has striking visual appeal with silver blue green feathery foliage.
- BES = Little Goldstar Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida) (native) This cultivar is known for its compact size and drought tolerance; it has star-shaped golden flowers over dark green foliage.
- WG = Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum) (native) Interesting green foliage; saucer-shaped lilac flowers that bloom for six to seven weeks mid-to-late spring.
Fortunately, I already had these plants in my backyard, so I merely dug up what I needed when the hell strip was ready and replanted them in clusters of three to five, following the pattern above. I made sure the roots were snuggly embedded in the soil and watered liberally. I then retrieved some free leaf mulch (for residents of the City of Alexandria and Arlington County) and put down an inch or two over the whole strip, being mindful not to cover any of the new plants.
Let the Weather Give You a Hand
Another reason spring is a great time for this project is that mother nature can often supply rain every few days to keep your new plantings happy as they establish themselves in their new home. Remember that though these plants are tough, giving them a little extra care (i.e., watering them if dry) will go a long way to ensure their success. I am pleased to say that after several weeks, they still look super healthy with nothing more than an occasional inspection by me.
Final Thoughts
I am thrilled with my new hell strips and have received multiple compliments from neighbors. The project is relatively easy but does take some time and energy. It took one full day for me to de-sod one 18 inch x 36 foot strip, dig up plants from my backyard and replant them in the strip. I saved the mulching for the next day. The other strip had to wait about a month due to my busy schedule. Fortunately, my husband had time to help me with this hell strip, so it took less time with two people. Note that the strip planted earlier definitely benefited. The second strip had less time to establish before enduring some hot, dry weather, which caused post-transplant droopiness. Eventually, they perked up.
A key strategy for a successful transformation is choosing plants that are naturally tough and will not grow too high or large for the space you have. Also, be aware that your hell strip is quite visible, so you want plants that are attractive, will complement your property, and look like you intended them to be there.
Best of luck as you contemplate and hopefully embark upon this highly satisfying do-it-yourself project!