Dress Up Your Sidewalk With This Easy Street-Side Garden Plan

16K
1.6K
749

It's possible to create a beautiful garden in a challenging spot along a sun-drenched curb; you just need to use tough plants that can tolerate heat and drought well. This easy street-side garden plan relies on a mix of native perennials that do just that, plus they'll create an oasis of colorful blooms and foliage that will look good all summer long. Bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects will also appreciate the abundance of nectar-rich flowers.

Plants for Creating the Easy Street-Side Garden Plan

The flowering perennials in this garden plan will provide weeks of summer color. In addition, a few fall-blooming natives such as aster, goldenrod, and turtlehead will extend the floral show until frost and provide food for many pollinators that are still out foraging until winter begins.

  • 6 Garden phlox (Phlox paniculata 'Shortwood'): Zones 4-8
  • 4 Blue false indigo (Baptisia australis): Zones 3-9
  • 5 Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum 'Northwind'): Zones 3-9
  • 5 Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea): Zones 3-8
  • 3 Smooth aster (Aster laevis 'Bluebird'): Zones 3-9
  • 4 Bee balm (Monarda didyma 'Jacob Cline'): Zones 4-10
  • 4 New England blazing star (Liatris scariosa var. novae-angliae): Zones 4-8
  • 4 Rough-stem goldenrod (Solidago rugosa 'Fireworks'): Zones 4-9
  • 2 Ox eye daisy (Heliopsis helianthoides 'Summer Nights'): Zones 3-9
  • 3 Turtlehead (Chelone glabra): Zones 3-8

If you can't find the exact cultivars listed above, substitute with other plants that offer similar colors, shapes, and sizes to still achieve the look of this garden plan.

Get the Free Easy Street-Side Garden Plan

This garden design includes an illustrated version of the planted garden, a detailed layout diagram, a list of plants for the garden as shown, and complete instructions for installing the garden.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What are the best plants for the sidewalk?

    The best plants for this challenging area between the street curb and sidewalk are low maintenance plants that don't get overly tall. Planting bright, beautiful flowers and native perennials can enhance the curb appeal of your house while drawing butterflies and birds to the area.

  • What plants should you avoid growing near the sidewalk?

    Avoid planting oversized shrubs that could scratch or harm anyone walking down the sidewalk. Also be careful to keep the plants you grow below 3 feet tall so they don't obstruct views for drivers.

  • Can you plant trees near the sidewalk?

    Be careful when planting trees near a sidewalk because their roots will grow as the tree does. This can eventually cause the pavement to crack or lift, so make sure any trees that will grow large are at least 6 feet away from the sidewalk.

New

Orchids on display in a shop
7.1K
571
62
10 Front Porch Planter Ideas to Drape Your Entryway in Color
Container Gardens
Orchids on display in a shop
44.4K
3.6K
888
3 Pretty Planting Ideas for Strawberry Pots That Aren't Strawberries
Container Gardens
Orchids on display in a shop
7.2K
289
69
9 DIY Vertical Gardens for Better Herbs
Container Gardens
Orchids on display in a shop
31.1K
2.8K
1.4K
How to Make a DIY Indoor Compost Bin
Caring for Your Yard
Orchids on display in a shop
21.4K
427
76
How to Start Seeds Indoors to Jumpstart Your Spring Garden
Caring for Your Yard
Orchids on display in a shop
24.5K
1.5K
704
Tillers vs. Cultivators: How to Choose the Right One for Your Gardening Tasks
Caring for Your Yard
Orchids on display in a shop
30.9K
309
61
How to Plant a Water Lily in a Container to Brighten Up Your Pond
Landscaping
Orchids on display in a shop
44K
3.5K
422
An Island Flower Bed That Looks Gorgeous from Every Angle
Garden Plans
Orchids on display in a shop
36.8K
1.8K
441
This Colorful Hot-Summer Garden Plan Is Perfect for Warmer Months
Garden Plans
Orchids on display in a shop
4.4K
354
138
15 No-Fuss Garden Plans Filled with Plants That Thrive in Full Sun
Garden Plans
Orchids on display in a shop
24.8K
1.2K
124
10 Tips for Protecting Tulip Bulbs for the Best Spring Bloom
Flowers
Orchids on display in a shop
9.4K
469
178
How to Grow and Care for Calathea
Houseplants
Orchids on display in a shop
49.9K
2.5K
898
7 Common Poinsettia Care Mistakes Everybody Makes
Houseplants
Orchids on display in a shop
27.6K
1.9K
250
8 Tips for Getting Rid of Squash Bugs Naturally Before They Devour Your Plants
Pest & Problem Fixes
Orchids on display in a shop
24.9K
2.5K
969
Achieve the Perfect Blueberry Soil pH with These 9 Simple Tips
Edible Gardening
Orchids on display in a shop
45.5K
2.3K
818
When and How to Harvest Dill for Its Flavorful Leaves, Flowers, and Seeds
Edible Gardening
Orchids on display in a shop
28.7K
287
88
How to Kill a Tree You Don't Want Around
Trees, Shrubs & Vines
Orchids on display in a shop
32.4K
1.6K
469
30 Best Native Plants for Southern Gardens That Thrive in the Heat
Gardening Routine
Orchids on display in a shop
25.5K
255
63
Top Plants for Florida Landscaping and Gardens
Gardening Routine
Orchids on display in a shop
21.4K
427
153
15 Super Plants for Texas Landscapes
Gardening Routine