Drive-by planting?

By Patricia Diaz, from the August 2002 Newsletter

Do you have a driveway strip that just doesn't look good no matter what you plant? Does your driveway area look like it's just trampled dirt? Or is the curbside area looking like a wasteland? Well then, try these tricks to revive this trouble spot in your yard.

First, remove weeds by either digging them up, smothering them with black plastic, or spraying with safe herbicide. If the area has become an unwanted pathway, create the path you want people to use with bricks, steppingstones, mulch or other "path-like" products.

Usually the soil is compacted and dry, so water it down then dig it down and apply at least 2-3" of compost. If it's native soil and not in bad condition, dig it down to eight inches. With good soil, you don't need the added compost.

Now it's time to plant. You might want to place your plant choices a little closer than usually suggested to achieve a faster garden strip and avoid the tendency for humans to make it a path again. Choose plants that don't mind being dry or aren't fussy about the soil they're in. You'll probably want plants that don't grow over three feet in height and ones that aren't straggly in habit.

Once you've planted your choices, mulch them in with a one-inch layer of mulch (you can also use small gravel or crushed shells) and water thoroughly. Bark and wood chips aren't good mulches for an area where you want fast growth as these tend to inhibit growth. Water weekly for several months until the plants are well established then they can be on their own unless there is a prolonged dry spell. Also, keep up on the weeding until the plants fill in then you won't usually have to weed anymore.

Good choices for planting in these areas are alyssum montanum (mountain basket of gold), veronica pectinata (Blue Reflection), iris, crocus, tulips, dianthus, catmint, penstemon species, poppies, rockroses, eriogonum (wild buckwheat), sunroses, lavender (but not the French varieties here - not hardy enough), santolina, salvia and agastache species, Russian sage, Berkeley sedge and festuca californica (both ornamental grasses), and baboon flowers.

Pat Diaz lives in the woods near Dworshak Reservoir where she is eagerly awaiting the tomato and potato harvest. Her husband, Tom, planted FOUR zucchini plants - what was he thinking? They're harvesting those like crazy and have some to spare.

© Copyright on articles, recipes and images are jointly held by the Moscow Food Co-op and the respective contributors, except were otherwise noted.

Return to Resource Page

For additions or corrections to this page, please contact the Webmaster.