Funny thing about houses (and I should know, I’ve lived in quite a few) is that in every single one there is an area (or areas) that could best be described as “a waste of space”. Weird corners that no side table can fit into, funny skinny hallways unsuitable for anything other than skating in socks and racing the kittens, unusable alcoves under stairs, and the ubiquitous corner cupboard by the oven in the kitchen that inevitably becomes a black hole for Tupperware and baking trays.
But, the greatest waste of space of all is generally located outside the house. And it ain’t the significant other drinking beer in the shed! It’s the nature strip, and I reckon it’s time we all paid some attention to this oft neglected but all too visible patch of nothingness!
The Nature Strip Explained
So, what exactly is a nature strip? Well, technically speaking, a nature strip is “council owned and/or controlled land located between a constructed road and a parcel of private property, which does not include land reserved for public purpose or bushland”. This is pretty much a long winded way of saying, ‘the area out the front of your place between the boundary fence and the gutter’. Nature strips are, in most circumstances, owned by the council but managed by the residents, which means the upkeep (yup, I’m talking mowing) is up to you. The exception to this rule is street trees, which are generally managed by the council… so give them a call if they need a prune, or some serious management.
I reckon that, by very definition, the word nature strip is an oxymoron in most circumstances. There is so little ‘nature’ on most nature strips that the desolated Afar Depression on the Horn of Africa would have some serious competition from many nature strips! Traditionally, most nature strips are a monoculture of turf ….an area of often neglected grass used by the postie, house visitors when parking and, my own personal nemesis, the inconsiderate souls who brings their dogs to toilet there nightly…right by the letter box! But, as St. Dylan told us, “the times they are a-changin’”, and increasing numbers of eco-friendly folks are looking to change the face of our natures strips.
Stripping – Getting Started
Now, before you scurry out to the front strip and start re-creating the Daintree, there are a few things you need to be aware of. Nature strips are, technically, council property, and many councils have some fairly tight regulations when it comes to planting out nature strips. Being public space, these areas have to allow easy access (think pushers, bicycles, mobility scooters and the postman), be free of trip hazards and allow for a continuous line of sight to prevent traffic chaos and accidents. Generally speaking, the footpath area (where people walk) needs to be 1.5m wide, although this can vary from council to council, and be kept free from overhanging branches and plants that could take someone’s head off!
I have to point out that, for whatever reason, not all councils are amenable to homeowners altering their nature strips (something to do with upsetting the aesthetics and feel of the suburb/street!). Yup, it might be draconian and backwards, but I cannot stress strongly enough how important it is to check with your local council before doing anything or planting anything on your nature strip. There is nothing worse than the council coming along and “removing” an unsuitable landscape… it’s only going to end in tears and a story in the local newspaper! Loads of councils actually have some really good nature strip beautification guidelines, including rules, regs and often suggested planting lists.
Getting Back to Nature (Strips)
One of the safest and sexiest of all footpath funk-ups is planting a selection of locally native grasses, wildflowers and small shrubs. These types of plantings require minimal inputs (like irrigation, fertilising and pest control), increase suburban bio-diversity, create habitat for birds and butterflies, and enhance the character of a suburb. Indigenous plantings are uniquely suited to the local environment, and should thrive, even on the toughest nature strip. The upside of this type of planting is that most councils are more than happy for you to whack these types of plants in… provided you adhere to their guidelines.
As we all know, biodiversity and meaningful habitat has a number of strata or vegetation layers, ranging from groundcovers and grasses, small, medium and large shrubs, and, of course, trees. And herein lies a significant hurdle for converting footpaths into genuine “nature strips”. You see, councils have a street tree planting policy, and a whole bunch of factors are taken into consideration before street trees are put in. These include public safety, suitability of the tree for the site, overhead powerlines, pruning and maintenance requirements, underground services and much more. With this in mind, it is best not to plant anything that is likely to stand over 1m high at maturity, lest the council come and remove it. Check with the council, loads of them will come out and pop a suitable street tree in if you ask them.
Feeding on the Footpath
With all things edible now becoming incredible, imagine converting your footpath into a food forest? This is a fabulous option for loads of residences, especially those with limited backyard space or those living in quiet cul de sacs or side streets, away from the polluting influence of main roadways. And even better is that taking your vegie garden to the street is a fantastic way of connecting communities. There are a number of communities in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Fremantle already converting large expanses of footpath into community vegie gardens, and, councils willing, more should continue. The secret here is to seek council approval before whacking in the watermelons, and liaise with your neighbours. Vegie verges are an attractive, functional, productive use of what can be a bit of a waste of space.
So hop to it… call your council, get into the guidelines, connect your community and do something funky on your footpath!
Pic 1: A footpath full of food. www.greenwalks.wordpress.com
Pic 2: A (partially) edible nature strip in Syndal, Melbourne. www.flickr.com.au – syam c
Pic 3: Nature Strip Regeneration in Coburg, Melbourne. www.flickr.com – greenroofsaustralia
Pic 4: Typical nature strip….complete with ornament! www.flickr.com – yewenyi
Pic 5: Beautiful nature strip in an urban landscape….apart from the Agapanthus! www.flickr.com.au – yewenyi
Very informative articles on frogs and nature strips. Dislike the downward writing alongside the pics, too complicated to read.
Fantastic! I’m calling Boroondara council today.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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…
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?
[...] Stripping in the Suburbs – Nature Strip Plantings [...]
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!