Swales: Challenge lies beyond the sidewalk

Making a yard and a community more beautiful begins at the curb. But that narrow space between sidewalk and street — sometimes called a swale, median, hellstrip, parkway, verge or tree belt — is a gardening challenge.

For starters, many are owned by the municipality but it falls to the homeowner to maintain. So the first step in caring for it is to sort out what local rules allow .

“You need to go to the city’s website if there are any questions about who owns what,” said Evelyn Hadden, author of the new book Hellstrip Gardening (Timber Press). “The zoning laws should be posted online.”

“Some cities have regulations where there can only be lawns there. Some say there can’t be vegetables, but allow some kind of lawn alternative,” she said. “Some communities change their rules when people start growing gardens and the community gets behind them.”

Homeowners associations also may restrict what can be planted in the front yard or swale.

Curb appeal can increase property values for the whole neighborhood, Hadden said. “Curbside gardeners are pretty generous that way. They’re working for the benefit of everybody.”

Even seedy-looking parcels can become natural welcome mats when integrated with front yards. Curbside spaces are often heavily trafficked, however, making them tough to cultivate. The ground is hard-packed, and plants can be crushed underfoot. Rocks might add character to the landscape but will dent car doors if placed too near the curb. Tall, dense foliage can be a traffic hazard, preventing passing motorists from seeing pets and children.

Once you’ve determined whether local government or a homeowners association have restrictions, here are some tips for creating a well-tended “hellstrip”:

For more about curbside gardening, see this Metro Blooms Urban Gardener’s Guide: www.metroblooms.org/guide–garden-tips.php.

This story was originally published August 2, 2014 at 12:00 AM.