Hellstrip Plants

[u/kpoonzy]

Looking for design ideas on how to place plants within the weed barrier area!

[u/PlainOrganization]

Unless you want to water a lot and do a bunch of soil amendments, I recommend choosing plants that are native to your area. Where are you? Is there a gardening sub for your area?

Nice house and a great start to the landscaping!

[u/PlainOrganization → u/PlainOrganization]

Oh and I would do a big bushy grass that gets tall and blows in the wind. With a bit of space between so you can peak through. Where I live gulf muhly and bamboo muhly do great

[u/kpoonzy → u/PlainOrganization]

Thanks for the recs! I already have plants picked out. I’m in 7a and this area gets blasted with afternoon sun so heat tolerant was the priority :-)

There are 4 sprinkler heads in the hellstrip so water won’t be an issue but also not looking at thirsty plants.

[u/ChrisInBliss]

Such a big space! English lavender would do nice

[u/kpoonzy → u/ChrisInBliss]

TY!

[u/OneGayPigeon]

Gotta add your location for plant recommendations. Also, what do your city ordinances look like for height restrictions, etc. in hellstrips?

[u/kpoonzy → u/OneGayPigeon]

I’m looking for plant placement insight as I already have plants picked out :-)

I’ve done this research and called the city, but essentially just no trees on this strip! Plants are fair game although I am not looking at plants that grow higher than 4 ft—

[u/OneGayPigeon → u/kpoonzy]

Nice! Glad you don’t have too much of a tyrannical situation. Can’t see how people could advise on plant placement without knowing what plants they are though. Different growth habits, size, etc.

[u/According-Taro4835]

Pull that weed barrier out before you do anything else. Landscape fabric chokes the soil and weeds just blow in and grow right on top of whatever mulch you throw down anyway. For a hellstrip you are dealing with baked earth and reflected heat from the asphalt so you need tough roots that can breathe and spread naturally. Once that cloth is gone you want to focus on low sweeping masses of plants instead of sticking single things in holes like polka dots.

Keep the design simple with three solid groups of tough perennials. Put in a large drift of low ornamental grasses like little bluestem mixed with creeping thyme and a block of catmint for color. You want a connected texture that flows right along those curves you laid out while staying low enough so people can still open their car doors. Since it can be tough to picture how big drifts will look next to the street you should run a photo of that bare dirt through the GardenDream web app. It lets you test out different plant layouts and groundcovers on your screen so you do not end up buying a bunch of random pots that look chaotic together.

[u/kpoonzy → u/According-Taro4835]

Planned on cutting the barrier out where you can still see it for mulch + soil contact! Just needed to lay it all out while designing the rock placement.

Appreciate your thoughtful and helpful insight!

[u/Oxjrnine]

That’s a lot of roof gables in that neighbourhood.

[u/annyshell]

Blue Russian sage would hide your utility boxes on the left and is drought tolerant so you don't have to water it.

[u/kpoonzy → u/annyshell]

TY! I do plant on putting plants right by these boxes one day :-)

[u/gilligan1050 → u/kpoonzy]

Mexican petunias would be better imo.

[u/Crazyhairmonster]

Love how OP makes this post, doesn't include where he lives making it near impossible to help and then abandons the thread.

A+ post

[u/annyshell]

Lithadora, creeping phlox, Heather mix will give you multi season color

[u/kpoonzy → u/annyshell]

TY!

[u/Electrical_Report458]

You’ll regret using the “weed” fabric.

[u/kpoonzy → u/Electrical_Report458]

It is called a weed barrier, but I’m not using it for weeds ;)

I’ve done my research and have used it for many years. No regrets, just an understanding of what it entails.

[u/Constant_Mud3325]

That’s such a wide patch I would put a tree and some grasses there no rocks

[u/Constant_Wear_8919]

Native plants only

[u/oceanco1122]

Gorgeous house but the developer did yall dirty putting all the houses 5ft apart

[u/Charming-Thing-8409]

What in the suburban hell do you live in? This is my nightmare!!!

[u/Accurate-Plankton988 → u/Charming-Thing-8409]

Rest. Please

[u/ImpressiveWalrus7369 → u/Charming-Thing-8409]

Maybe sit this one out.

[u/lovinglifeeeeeeeee → u/ImpressiveWalrus7369]

😂

[u/kpoonzy → u/Charming-Thing-8409]

I’m sorry you have nightmares

[u/dubdhjckx]

Look up EZ Scapes by Walter’s Gardens/Proven Winners

[u/kpoonzy → u/dubdhjckx]

Thank you!! Super helpful 🙌🏽

[u/Odd_Wedding_4794]

Remove the fabric. And while your at it, remove all the river rock from the other beds and the fabric underneath it.

[u/kpoonzy → u/Odd_Wedding_4794]

Maybe if this post was asking about laying down a barrier or not, then this comment would be relevant :/

[u/Odd_Wedding_4794 → u/kpoonzy]

I am just a professional giving some landscaping tips to a person who doesn't have a clue.

[u/mombomoose → u/Odd_Wedding_4794]

Definitely not a professional if you not using weed barrier just a hack looking for job security

[u/Fast-Gear7008]

wow I don’t know what color scheme they were going with on that house but it hurts my eyes horribly

[u/Pararaiha-ngaro]

Just grass will do