Comments on: Stripping in the Suburbs – Nature Strip Plantings

By: Growing Peppers

Growing Peppers — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 14:05:02 +0000

It is good to read this article that gardeners are concern and rescued on the nature strip. I went to the website of (SGA PODS) Gardening Groups are Productive, Organic and Diverse, and I was amazed that there is actually an organizations that is proactive in sustainable gardening. They are concern on the health and welfare of the planet. And the best thing about them is that they are willing to engage themselves in the local community. That is awesome!

By: PODS – Your Local Sustainable Gardening Group « Sustainable Gardening Australia

Tue, 04 May 2010 03:28:27 +0000

[...] Stripping in the Suburbs – Nature Strip Plantings [...]

By: groovergreen

groovergreen — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 06:33:34 +0000

It’s good to see some gardeners have successfully rescued their nature strips. It gives me hope for mine — a long stretch of bare dirt that I used to call the DMZ, until it became the scene of a battle between me and the body corporate. Yes, the BC that for years had left the strip devoid of grass, until all the topsoil washed away and it became a graveyard of dead possums and dog turds. I dug it over, composted it, seeded it, and watched the grass grow … until one day the BC goons dug it all up and threw the greenery in the wheelie bin.
No sympathy from Boroondara Council (Melbourne), either.
I don’t know what I should do next. Does anyone have any advice?

By: Vinay N

Vinay N — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:15:43 +0000

I totally disagree with the Nature strips being “owned” by the council but managed by the residents. Don’t we pay enough rates to the council for maintaining our streets???? I Personally, I believe that it’s highly unfair…

By: Jeff Howes

Jeff Howes — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 02:59:22 +0000

I live in a northern suburb of Sydney and have a large ‘nature strip’ either side of my drive (about 10 metres deep. I have made 3 separate gardens, planted out with Aust natives, the first commenced 30 years ago and the last two 10 years ago I try and have shrubs that grow no higher than 1 to 1.2 metres and need little watering as it is hard to get my hose to go that far. Having low growing plants allows you to see over them, from a car when driving in and out of a drive way. A safety issue you need to consider.
My garden has been open for many years under the Australian Open Garden Scheme and using the nature strip allows me a greater area to grow our fabulous plants and thus allow the public to see a greater variety of Australian plants.
If you have the time to maintain a nature strip garden — go for it.

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 02:01:55 +0000

The concept is good but please remember that when people come to visit that they are required to park within a set distance from the kerb and passengers need to be able to get out of the vehicle on to the verge and parking across the drive way is illegal. As a contractor with a truck this usually means regrettably walking on verge plants to be able to access the offside of the vehicle. Just something else to factor into the garden design.

By: Janet

Janet — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 10:56:58 +0000

To clarify 2 points.
Nature strip plantings are even more useful if they shade the road – this keeps the entire area cooler by reducing the amount by which the road surface heats and then radiates heat, and because of the transpiration by the plants. This benefits both bike riders and car drivers (especially those whose air-con has failed). But I was assuming that plantings of that scale are only within the power of local councils.
Also, I am not recommending anyone have plants overhanging the footpath anywhere between the level of the footpath and 2m above it. This is clearly a hazard for pedestrians, especially those who are sight impaired. In addition, wet branches droop which is a nuisance for tall people.
Thanks.

By: Janet

Janet — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 10:18:36 +0000

Thanks for the article on this subject! But it is a real shame about the 1m height rule.
Why? Because the best thing I think a nature strip can do is shade the footpath – during summer months in Southern States and year round up North.
I walk a lot, and the thing that makes the biggest difference to pedestrain comfort in summer is SHADE! If you want to encourage people to walk to the bus stop, shops, school etc. you can do your bit by shading the footpath (this also helps, in its own tiny way, to combat the urban heat island effect). My local council has a 2m clearance rule for branches overhanging the footpath – which is enforced every few years.
I’d love to see an article regarind how to plant your front yard with appropriate shrubs to shade the footpath – since residents nature strip plantings will not do that.
PS Doug, I’m sorry but I’m going to disagree with you walking down an unshaded footpath on a 40 degree day is miles worse (especially if you are walking in front of a high brick or metal fence or a yard of unshaded paving) than doging a few branches – and yes – I dodge branches regularly. However safety near corners, fair enough.

By: Doug

Doug — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 23:26:59 +0000

I think it is a great idea and it looks very nice but there is nothing worse than trying to squeeze down a footpath narrowed by overhanging or over grown shrubs. Working in a regional Victorian Council I can understand the reluctance of Council’s to allow plantings or taller shrubs on nature strips. Council’s are responsible for ensuring the safety of footpath users and and driver visibility when approaching intersections and this all needs to be enforced as not all residents are as dilligent with their garden maintenance.

Keep it lower than knee height and respect the rights of adults and children to use footpaths without risk of injury from poorly maintained or inappropriate shrubs.

By: sylvia

sylvia — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 22:23:11 +0000

Fantastic! I’m calling Boroondara council today.