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Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Curb Strip planting in June

The curb strip planting in its first year without grass
I did a post last year on how we took the plunge and killed the turf in our curb strip to establish a more sustainable planting - meaning one that we did not have to go over every week with a mower! We extended our planting last September to include the entire curb length of 113 feet.

Sedum 'Acre' is the ground cover here, as in the Front Woodland. It smothers out the weeds, requires no maintenance at all, and blooms yellow in June.

See it also in spring with grape hyacinths (Muscari 'Ocean Magic') under the white flowers on the Serviceberries (Amelanchier canadensis).

12 comments:

  1. James D. WitmerJune 19, 2012 at 9:03 AM

    Hooray for less mowing!

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  2. AnonymousJune 19, 2012 at 11:19 AM

    I like the idea. Sheila

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  3. PaulineJune 19, 2012 at 11:52 AM

    Such a good idea, I'm for anything that means less work!

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    1. Wife, Mother, GardenerJune 19, 2012 at 2:18 PM

      The great thing about Sedum 'Acre', or a similar S. form, is that is stays lower than 6 inches. That gives it the look, especially from afar, of a turfed area without all up-keep. And of course it effectively adds the curb strip to your property in appearance.
      ~Julie

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  4. NadezdaJune 19, 2012 at 12:53 PM

    Wow, I think it was very hard work! Your curb looks nice.

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  5. ChristinaJune 19, 2012 at 4:05 PM

    This is to be copied by everyone. Grass is not a sustainable plant, needing water and hard work mowing. Now it is beautiful and sustainable, Christina

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  6. Donna@Gardens Eye ViewJune 19, 2012 at 7:45 PM

    I adore this Julie and use this same sedum as a ground cover in a few areas...wonderful use and such a better alternative to grass...

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  7. scottweberpdxJune 19, 2012 at 8:09 PM

    I love it...so much better than regular old turf!

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  8. AnonymousJune 19, 2012 at 10:39 PM

    Looks good. You don't have cars parking curbside then? In our neighborhood we would have problems doing this as my neighbor has a tax prep business where her clients park in front of my house constantly. I wanted to plant, then thought they would ruin anything that I would put out there.

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    1. Wife, Mother, GardenerJune 21, 2012 at 11:35 PM

      Donna,
      No parking is allowed on either street beside us. But, I use Sedum 'Acre' because it is not precious and very easy to propagate. It will take some foot traffic and look just fine the next day. And I did include a few stones that step from the road up to the stairs in this area. I would not put my more expensive plants out there... though I did just throw in a few divisions of Nepeta to see how they do by the stop sign :)
      ~Julie

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  9. _emily_roseJune 20, 2012 at 10:51 AM

    This looks wonderful! I am anti grass, and am pulling it out and working to let moss take over as much of my shady lawn as possible. I love how you mixed in the bulbs too. I'm adding this to my 'garden ideas' list!

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  10. Bertie BainbridgeJune 21, 2012 at 4:58 PM

    Greetings Julie! Such a stunning scene, you deploy the Sedum ‘Acre’ so well. Excited to see what summer brings at Gilmore Gardens!

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