mjw20851

Tall grasses grow fairly quick and would give nice contrast with the arborvitae and provide screening throughout most of the year. Tall meadow flowers too, and they would attract butterflies. They would enjoy the sunshine

This is one of my favorite plants, it attracts hummingbirds, though i havent had any yet.

I live the path and plants! What are the low growing plants on the right side of the path, under the dogwoods?

Thankfully, some people garden with creative artistic abandon despite tractors disapproval... I think it is a whimsical touch and enjoy the idea.

The energy expended on this is similar to the energy spent creating beautiful flower arrangements and gourmet foods... which dont last anywhere as long as a season. Some people dont see the point, but I do!

@tractor1, actually, Randy was the constructive judge. Simon is known for ridiculing people...

Really great solution to a formerly unusable area! I have seen some rock gardens that just look like a jumble of debris--but yours flows and swirls in a way that looks natural and designed all at once. I have a steep slope that adges my driveway and had been considering putting rocks along it, as a more natural edging, but wasn't sure how it would look... Now I am definitely copycatting you this year! I am a rock collector myself and have lost a few, and the rock stealers are probably just kids. As long as the stolen rocks aren't going through windows, I figure it's probably good the kids are so interested in something other than video games. You just need to get heavier rocks. :)

What a lovely solution, the shapes and colors are very pleasing. I just replaced the half moon patch of weed at the end of my driveway with gravel, these are some good ideas for plants i can add in the spring. So glad not everyone is obsessed with the same old same old!

I don't mind mowing, weeding & watering. What does get me is digging. I injured my back a few years ago so I can only dig a little before I have to stop for the day. My yard started as nothing but compacted lawn and roots from a dead maple, so every plant I get requires a massive effort to prepare a hole or new bed. Santa please send me a Digbot.

This is great and lovely! I've been mulling over planting my hellstrip for a while, but unsure what to do that the city won't complain about... I've discovered my little city is very authoritarian. They threatened to dig up two small locally native spice bushes I planted at the back of my property (they thought it was on their parkland, when it was on my land), but yet they won't do anything about the invasive weeds in the park (that have invaded my yard and those of my neighbors) and even commented that some people like the way they feel when they step on them. They put up signs saying they aren't going to mow some areas along roadways because it's better for the environment... but then continue to seed with plain grass in new areas! I wish more cities would get a clue. Anyone who has ever seen the wildflowers along the Texas highways in spring will know that Lady Bird Johnson was on to something long ago...

Great idea! I would love it if you have a short series of reader photos of their planted 'hell strips'!

I have been wanting to plant my 'hell strip' (I'm tired of mowing it) and looking for ideas on cheap (in case the city does work), low growing plants (won't block driver views) that can handle drought in summer (I don't want to drag a hose out there) and salt spray in winter.

Thanks, this is the perfect solution for a deep shade spot I have in my yard where nothing else grows. Does it grow fast? I'm also looking for a fast growing evergreen groundcover to stop erosion in a partly shaded slope behind my fence (currently just grass). I'm trying to use native plants, or ones originally derived from native plants, when they are available.