The space between the sidewalk and the curb is a tough place to live. Some even call it a hell strip. But you can beautify this prime real estate with the right plants. Try these tough little beauties to get your garden started.
Before you dig, though, check with your city or housing association and mark underground power lines. Choose durable plants that can take heat, cold, foot traffic, bad soil, dogs, rabbits, deer, and worse that are 30 inches or shorter so you don’t block sight lines. Compacted soil may be a problem, so add organic material to help water drain faster. Keep weeding and water issues at bay with mulch, such as wood chips. If you’re planting under or near trees, select shade lovers.
Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.
Plant Name: Hardy geranium (Geranium sanguineum such as ‘Alpenglow’)
Hardiness: Zones 4 to 8
Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Height: 12 to 18 inches
Width: 18 inches
Notes: Deer and rabbit resistant. Blooms late spring to midsummer. Prefers moist, well-drained soil but tolerates drought once established. Resistant to walnut toxicity. May be divided every 3 to 4 years.
Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.
Plant Name: Beardtongue (Penstemon spp., such as ‘Blackbeard’)
Hardiness: Zones 3 to 8
Exposure: Full sun
Height: 28 to 34 inches
Spread: 24 inches
Notes: Purple-pink flowers in early to mid summer are followed by burgundy seed pods. Attracts hummingbirds. Dark purple leaves. Grow them in very well-drained soil to avoid root rot.
Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.
Plant Name: Sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum)
Hardiness: 4 to 8
Exposure: Shade to part shade
Height: 6 inches
Spread: 12 inches
Notes: Vigorous ground cover for shade grows best in moist areas with acidic soil. If grown in dry soil, it may look ragged by late summer. Tiny white flowers bloom in spring. Deer resistant.
Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.
Plant Name: Perennial salvia (Salvia nemorosa, such as ‘New Dimension Rose’)
Hardiness: 4-8
Exposure: Full sun
Height: 14 to 18 inches
Spread: 18 to 24 inches
Notes: Most perennial salvias—including sage—need little water once established. Critter resistant. Plants attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Midsummer blooms return by fall if spent parts are clipped off.
Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.
Plant Name: Blue fescue ornamental grass (Festuca glauca, such as ‘Elijah Blue’)
Hardiness: 4-8
Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Height: 8 to 10 inches
Width: 8 to 10 inches
Notes: Blue-gray clumping grass prefers dry conditions and poor but well-drained soil. Provide afternoon shade in warm regions. In warm climates, plants are evergreen. In cold climates, trim the plant to 1 inch above the base before growth begins in early spring.
Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.
Plant Name: Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans, such as ‘Black Scallop’)
Hardiness: 4 to 10
Exposure: Full sun to full shade
Height: 3 to 6 inches
Spread: 8 to 10 inches
Notes: Tough groundcover with spring flowers. Deer resistant. Foliage gets best color in sun but then needs extra moisture. For other foliage color choices, check out other varieties. Soil should drain easily. Foliage looks good all year.
Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.
Plant Name: Creeping thyme (such as Thymus praecox ‘Coccineus’)
Hardiness: Zones 3 to 8
Exposure: Full sun
Height: 2 to 4 inches
Spread: 12 inches
Notes: Groundcover thymes bloom in spring or early summer. Mediterranean plants do best in hot, dry conditions. Keep plants watered till established; then little extra water is needed. Deer resistant.
Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.
Plant Name: Creeping sedum (such as Sedum spurium ‘Fulda Glow’ or Sedum cauticola)
Hardiness: Zones 3-9
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Height: 2 to 4 inches
Spread: 10 inches
Notes: Grow groundcover to form a solid mat of foliage; many stay evergreen. They prefer poor but well drained soil. Drought tolerant once established. Rabbit resistant. Bloom times vary.
Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.
Plant Name: Yarrow (such as Achillea millefolium ‘Strawberry Seduction’)
Hardiness: Zones 3-8
Exposure: Full sun
Height: 18 to 24 inches
Spread: 28 to 32 inches
Notes: Choose a newer variety with strong stems. Grow in poor but well-drained soil. After flowers fade, cut the plants in half to stimulate a second round of blooms. In fall, let the fading flowers of ‘Strawberry Seduction’ remain on the plant; they turn buff yellow, making it look like it’s blooming again. Deer and rabbit resistant. Butterfly and bee magnet.
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