Show off your home by creating a boulevard garden

By Heather Grummett

As published by the Real Estate Update www.guelphanddistrictrealtors.ca

Transforming your boulevard from a simple section of grass into a colourful garden not only cuts down on the energy used to mow the lawn, but also grabs attention and adds to your curb appeal. 

The boulevard is the strip of city-owned land at the edge of your property line that runs between the sidewalk and the road. Every municipality has different guidelines or regulations when it comes to boulevard planting.  It is important to keep maximum visibility for cyclists, pedestrians and motorists at driveways and intersections.  It is also important to keep safety in mind for people walking down the street, by making sure plants don’t interfere with the sidewalk, limit access, or create areas where someone could trip.   Plants should be set back to avoid overgrowth and to allow proper access for passengers exiting cars.

In Guelph the City’s boulevard bylaw states that plants cannot be higher than .8 metres or 2.5 feet. Any rocks or paving stones must be below the grade of the sidewalk and curb so they do not interfere with road and sidewalk maintenance.  Also be sure not to block fire hydrants or utility valves. 

Depending on the area of Guelph in which you live, the space you have between the sidewalk and the road may be narrow, with only a foot or two to work with; in the older downtown neighbourhoods, you may have four to five feet of space. 

If you choose to take advantage of the nutrients in the existing lawn, you can prepare your garden by covering the sod with fabric cloth or thick wet newspaper. Cover the newspaper with a layer of mulch or leaves and wait until the grass has decomposed.  Often gardeners will begin this process in the fall, for spring planting.  Cut through the cloth or newspaper for each plant, leaving the rest in place to deter weeds.  Place additional mulch around your plants to help conserve moisture. 

When choosing plants, remember that what grows well at your front door, may not do well on the boulevard.  Pedestrians, traffic, winter salt and exhaust fumes are hard on plants. For best results, select drought tolerant plants that grow well in shallow gardens.  Perennials are a better choice over annuals so you don’t spend the entire season adapting your plants, just to start over next spring. 

It is also best to avoid expensive plants since they may be damaged through the winter. Plus your plants may be disturbed if the city needs to repair sidewalks, install signs or prune street trees. City utility lines may be buried under the boulevards, so shallow digging is best. 

Plants that survive salt and traffic but require sun exposure are: sedum, lavender, lamb’s ear, blue lyme grass, yarrow, and woolly thyme for a carpet of purple. Daylilies are also a great choice; however, plant them in the centre, away from the edge, as they will spread. For a shade garden consider bugleweed or hostas. Ground cover is always a great safe choice, as are spring bulbs such as crocus, snowdrops, and grape hyacinth. Even drought tolerant plants need time to become established – water your boulevard garden regularly for the first year or two.

If you live in an area that is busy with pedestrian traffic, consider creating a path with stepping-stones or mulch through your garden to discourage people from stepping on your plants while providing access to the road. 

A boulevard garden is a great use of space and brings attention to your property and your street, while minimizing lawn care. If you are looking for inspiration take a drive through downtown Guelph.  Some homeowners have created boulevard gardens on streets including Glasgow, Dublin, Suffolk and Oxford.  

Old ladders bring rustic charm to your home

Whether leaning silent, yet strong against a wall, or as a function display piece - I just can’t quite explain the charm that old ladders bring to your home.

Old extension ladders with round rungs are very versatile.  Cut short, they make a great leaning towel rack for the bathroom.  Left at full length, hanging from the kitchen ceiling, these rustic charmers are a great way to hang pots and pans, dried herbs, or baskets of onions, garlic and potatoes.

Many open concept homes have large vaulted ceilings, often with a loft overlooking the great room.  The tall walls can be difficult to decorate, as smaller pieces of art look lost in the grand space.  Why not extend a ladder and lean it against the wall as a focal point, and add other rustic pieces hanging beside or near it.

Short ladders, while becoming hard to find, make great side tables in the living room or bedroom.  Pile a few favourite books on top or place a small table lamp. 

If you can’t find the perfect spot for a ladder inside, use one to decorate your outdoor space.  Lean one against the brick on your front porch as the backdrop for your seating area. 

An open step-ladder makes a great plant stand or trellis for your garden.  Looking to add some interest to your back fence? Hang an extension ladder along the length.

Adding height to your garden - obelisks help maximize your space

Adding a freestanding structure to your garden creates a focal point and gives an element of height that may be missing. Obelisks are a great piece for the garden. These freestanding tripod shaped trellises allow climbing plants to grow upwards, showing off their blooms above the other flowers below.  Obelisks come in twig, metal, or painted and natural wood.   A series of three tall obelisks, also make a great informal privacy screen between neighbours. 

I build twig obelisks, which are my favourite since the twigs naturally complement the flowers.  Plus, the twigs also look beautiful in the winter with a fresh covering of snow.  Add some tiny lights and they make great Christmas trees.

Obelisks come in a variety of heights – don’t under estimate your plants.  They will be so excited to have a place to climb that you may find next year you are installing a larger structure.  Last year I installed a 4-foot obelisk for my sweet peas and while it was beautiful and full, this year I am putting in an 8-foot to give the vines proper space to reach out. 

Vines that work well for obelisks include morning glory, clematis, sweet peas, and scarlet runner.  Most flowering vines require a minimum of six hours of sun for the best growth.  Heavier vines such as trumpet vine, wisteria, Dutchman’s pipe and grapevine will require a larger, sturdier structure such as an arbour, an extra large trellis or fence. 

Be sure to anchor your obelisk properly as it will become top heavy when covered with vines and a strong wind can easily push it over.  Sink the legs into the ground as best as you can, but also drive wooden stakes or metal rods into the ground 12 to 18 inches beside each leg – then wire the leg to the stake.  Depending on how sheltered your garden is, a tent peg could also work well.  

Not only for flowers, an obelisk is a great addition to the vegetable garden, especially if you have a small yard and not a lot of space for produce.  Grow your garden vertically with peas, climbing beans, zucchini, and cucumbers. 

Do you live in an apartment and wish you could have a garden?  No problem, as long as you have a balcony or sufficient light. Install an obelisk in a large planter and grow pots of vegetables easily in small spaces.