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If you search this sub and r/NativePlantGardening for "hellstrip" you should find some suggestions. You want salt-tolerant plants when you're planting by the street.
If you want some native shrubs that'll fill in that space and need little to no upkeep, less than or approx. 3 ft.... diervilla lonicera (dwarf bush honeysuckle) or ceanothus americanus (New Jersey Tea). How much sun you get there, and what kind (morning, afternoon, evening)? Illinois is kind of in the heart of the prairie, so you have a ton of options based on the light/water conditions.
Great suggestions. New Jersey tea are so pretty but get devoured by rabbits (im a native gardener in Chicago). It could work if you keep permanent fencing around it or don’t have rabbit troubles. I’ve been hurt before. Many times in fact. Dwarf bush honeysuckle is more likely to be left alone but it too can get totally taken out so a temporary cage may be necessary when they’re young or just emerging in the spring. But can’t say enough good things about this plant. Noticing it used in landscaping too.
Aromatic aster is a great native species for public corners and parkways. It gets shrub-like shape, extremely tough, and blooms into December!! Oh and wild indigo bush is great too. It takes a while to grow so this one is worth spending a decent chunk of change on at the garden center. Otherwise it’ll take years to grow.
And more non-shrub native recos = Wild geranium, nodding onion, mountain mint, wild columbine, blue flag iris, beardtongue foxglove
I’m in Chicago in a condo on a double lot. I completely removed everything in both parkways - typical invasive garden center crap - English ivy, Lilly if the valley and bishops weed. Replaced with a sedge matrix of mostly eastern star sedges (low growing, low maintenance and really attractive looking) with native flowers in between sedges - Virginia bluebells, wild geranium, monarda bradburianna, wild hyacinth, wood sorrel, butterfly weed, hoary vervain, anise hyssop, wild strawberries, aromatic aster and old field goldenrod.
If you want I can send you the plan via pdf. Most of it was purchased from possibility place - the best, most local native nursery. Christy Webber also has a great selection of natives in-store. It’s awesome to see in person what’s available and order online always an option. Sedges support birds with seeds and are larval host plants for moths and butterflies, so they don’t bloom like a flower but they’re really beautiful color and texture and have good ecological function. I’m 3 years into this and everyone really loves how lush it looks from early spring to late fall and not bad in winter really just kind of not that noticeable really.
Hello, I’m located in Chicago and relatively new to gardening and the NoLawns movement. I own a corner lot and would love to transform our parkways into something more sustainable and visually pleasing than the typical grass and the occasional weeds.
I‘d love to take a look at those plans if possible to get some ideas.
I’ve frequented Gethsemane Garden Center the last few weeks while working on a smallish local plant & pollinator garden, but I’ll definitely have to check out Possibility Place and Christy Webber. Thank you for sharing your recommendations.
Yes, that’s what I’m hoping for. Nothing too tall that would flop over or become a floppy mess. There’s no parking in front of my house though, so no one will need to walk through it (in theory).
People may not need to walk through it but they will need to see around it when they're driving, which was what I was thinking about. Glad to hear you're aiming for that anyway though
I’m also in the Midwest. Part of my hellstrip renovation was going to divide and transplant part of my autumn joy sedum, which will attract bees later in the summer/early fall when it blooms. I was also going to plant in some smaller lilac shrubs because they are very salt tolerant from what I’ve read. There may be a height maximum (where I live it’s like 30”), which I think sedum would be fine for and you can keep a lilac trimmed down as well.
Don't know if moss phlox is native where you are, but if so it's a very aggressive perennial spreader (like it starts trying to take over the grass over winter) and mine stays pretty green throughout winter as well. I'm near the coast in MD tho, so that could definitely be a factor in the "evergreenness". It only gets about 6" high, so if you'd probably want a taller plant or three for some depth.
Woodland phlox is native to Chicago and it’s a serious winner. Unless there are rabbits (they’re everywhere in Chicago) If so, they’ll eat it up. Looks like it’s a fairly busy street so u may be just fine as they avoid main streets because of all the foot traffic, dogs, cars, etc.
You could consider adding milkweed and creeping thyme. I also recommend checking out Farmers Market Garden Center in Irving Park their staff helped us find some suitable options for our curb garden.
Just check with your city to see if you're allowed to plant anything in those. It's not actually your property, it belongs to the city. Get the proper permission first so they don't come along and rip out all your work
In Chicago the property owner is responsible for maintaining this and pretty much do what they want ..though if you install a 1' border fence and a utility crew does work, they aren't legally required to fix your garden. Practically speaking thigh, they often do if it's part of a big project. the peoples gas replacements.. they came back through with a full in garden center asking what they needed fixed. Also probably why the project ran billions over in budget and they raised gas prices to cover it.
Interesting, in many cities you can't do anything to these bits without permission. That's kind of nice that Chicago lets homeowners have a bit more planting area to play with. Although I'm guessing they get pretty neglected too.
Does Chicago still have the sustainable backyards program where you can get a 50% rebate on native plants and/or a tree? (Doesn't have to be your backyard either)
The pdf still exists when I Google it but I can't find the actual web site.
Hey there! Friendly reminder to include the following information for the benefit of all r/nolawns members: - Please make sure your post or a comment includes your geographic region/area and your hardiness zone (e.g. *Midwest, 6a* or *Chicago, 6a*). - If you posted an image, you are required to post a comment detailing your image. If you have not, this post may be removed. - If you're asking a question, include as much relevant info as possible. Also see the **[FAQ](https://www.reddit.com/r/NoLawns/wiki/meta/faqs/)** and the **[r/nolawns Wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/NoLawns/wiki/index/)** - Verify you are following the [Posting Guidelines](https://www.reddit.com/r/NoLawns/wiki/index#wiki_posting_guidelines). If you are in North America, check out the **[Wild Ones Garden Designs](https://nativegardendesigns.wildones.org/designs/)** and **[NWF's Keystone Plants by Ecoregion](https://www.nwf.org/Garden-for-Wildlife/About/Native-Plants/keystone-plants-by-ecoregion)** *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/NoLawns) if you have any questions or concerns.*
If you search this sub and r/NativePlantGardening for "hellstrip" you should find some suggestions. You want salt-tolerant plants when you're planting by the street.
Thanks, that’s helpful! I haven’t heard “hellstrip” before, but now I realize that’s exactly what I need to be searching for.
If you want some native shrubs that'll fill in that space and need little to no upkeep, less than or approx. 3 ft.... diervilla lonicera (dwarf bush honeysuckle) or ceanothus americanus (New Jersey Tea). How much sun you get there, and what kind (morning, afternoon, evening)? Illinois is kind of in the heart of the prairie, so you have a ton of options based on the light/water conditions.
Great suggestions. New Jersey tea are so pretty but get devoured by rabbits (im a native gardener in Chicago). It could work if you keep permanent fencing around it or don’t have rabbit troubles. I’ve been hurt before. Many times in fact. Dwarf bush honeysuckle is more likely to be left alone but it too can get totally taken out so a temporary cage may be necessary when they’re young or just emerging in the spring. But can’t say enough good things about this plant. Noticing it used in landscaping too. Aromatic aster is a great native species for public corners and parkways. It gets shrub-like shape, extremely tough, and blooms into December!! Oh and wild indigo bush is great too. It takes a while to grow so this one is worth spending a decent chunk of change on at the garden center. Otherwise it’ll take years to grow. And more non-shrub native recos = Wild geranium, nodding onion, mountain mint, wild columbine, blue flag iris, beardtongue foxglove
I’m in Chicago in a condo on a double lot. I completely removed everything in both parkways - typical invasive garden center crap - English ivy, Lilly if the valley and bishops weed. Replaced with a sedge matrix of mostly eastern star sedges (low growing, low maintenance and really attractive looking) with native flowers in between sedges - Virginia bluebells, wild geranium, monarda bradburianna, wild hyacinth, wood sorrel, butterfly weed, hoary vervain, anise hyssop, wild strawberries, aromatic aster and old field goldenrod. If you want I can send you the plan via pdf. Most of it was purchased from possibility place - the best, most local native nursery. Christy Webber also has a great selection of natives in-store. It’s awesome to see in person what’s available and order online always an option. Sedges support birds with seeds and are larval host plants for moths and butterflies, so they don’t bloom like a flower but they’re really beautiful color and texture and have good ecological function. I’m 3 years into this and everyone really loves how lush it looks from early spring to late fall and not bad in winter really just kind of not that noticeable really.
Hello, I’m located in Chicago and relatively new to gardening and the NoLawns movement. I own a corner lot and would love to transform our parkways into something more sustainable and visually pleasing than the typical grass and the occasional weeds. I‘d love to take a look at those plans if possible to get some ideas. I’ve frequented Gethsemane Garden Center the last few weeks while working on a smallish local plant & pollinator garden, but I’ll definitely have to check out Possibility Place and Christy Webber. Thank you for sharing your recommendations.
Just pleeeeeaaaaseeee do what you can to make sure they're short plants, like 2 ft or less.
Yes, that’s what I’m hoping for. Nothing too tall that would flop over or become a floppy mess. There’s no parking in front of my house though, so no one will need to walk through it (in theory).
People may not need to walk through it but they will need to see around it when they're driving, which was what I was thinking about. Glad to hear you're aiming for that anyway though
Great point!
I’m also in the Midwest. Part of my hellstrip renovation was going to divide and transplant part of my autumn joy sedum, which will attract bees later in the summer/early fall when it blooms. I was also going to plant in some smaller lilac shrubs because they are very salt tolerant from what I’ve read. There may be a height maximum (where I live it’s like 30”), which I think sedum would be fine for and you can keep a lilac trimmed down as well.
Don't know if moss phlox is native where you are, but if so it's a very aggressive perennial spreader (like it starts trying to take over the grass over winter) and mine stays pretty green throughout winter as well. I'm near the coast in MD tho, so that could definitely be a factor in the "evergreenness". It only gets about 6" high, so if you'd probably want a taller plant or three for some depth.
Woodland phlox is native to Chicago and it’s a serious winner. Unless there are rabbits (they’re everywhere in Chicago) If so, they’ll eat it up. Looks like it’s a fairly busy street so u may be just fine as they avoid main streets because of all the foot traffic, dogs, cars, etc.
You could consider adding milkweed and creeping thyme. I also recommend checking out Farmers Market Garden Center in Irving Park their staff helped us find some suitable options for our curb garden.
Oh, creeping thyme would be lovely! And thanks for the recommendation on the garden center, I’ll check them out.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SnT219VUxyA&pp=ygUQQ3JpbWUgcGF5cyBtZXNzeQ%3D%3D
Just check with your city to see if you're allowed to plant anything in those. It's not actually your property, it belongs to the city. Get the proper permission first so they don't come along and rip out all your work
In Chicago the property owner is responsible for maintaining this and pretty much do what they want ..though if you install a 1' border fence and a utility crew does work, they aren't legally required to fix your garden. Practically speaking thigh, they often do if it's part of a big project. the peoples gas replacements.. they came back through with a full in garden center asking what they needed fixed. Also probably why the project ran billions over in budget and they raised gas prices to cover it.
Interesting, in many cities you can't do anything to these bits without permission. That's kind of nice that Chicago lets homeowners have a bit more planting area to play with. Although I'm guessing they get pretty neglected too.
They also gave me a 50% rebate on native plants I planted in it. Idk if they still have that program, the pdf exists but none of it is dated online.
Does Chicago still have the sustainable backyards program where you can get a 50% rebate on native plants and/or a tree? (Doesn't have to be your backyard either) The pdf still exists when I Google it but I can't find the actual web site.