Roadside Landscaping Ideas

Purpose

• Roadside plantings add beauty and character to the area. Some plants have the potential to attract butterflies, birds and beneficial insects. Plants and shrubs help absorb noise and act as wind breaks for nearby homes. Gardens that absorb rain runoff reduce the amount of harmful materials, such as oil and coolants from cars, that otherwise feed directly into the municipal water system during heavy storms.

Challenges

• Plants along roadsides must contend with road salt, debris and automobile exhaust, as well as any other pollutants that passing vehicles push to the side of the road. Plants absorb salt from winter de-icing projects and are unable to pass the large particles through their system. In areas of heavy salt use, select plants that grow well in coastal communities for their ability to grow in saline soils, recommends the Virginia Cooperative Extension.

Native

• Fill your space with native plants. Native plants have proven their ability to survive with the typical environmental conditions in your area without human intervention. For gardeners, this means there is less need to fertilize and water the plants in an area where they do not want to put in many resources. For local wildlife, the plants provide familiar sources of food and habitats.

Considerations

• Select plants based on a realistic assessment of the roadside conditions in conjunction with your ability and willingness to perform maintenance. Annual flowers are a good way to add strong colors to a space, but most require full sun. Plants under trees must compete with the tree for sunlight, water and nutrients. Plan to provide extra care for plants under trees until they are able to establish themselves in that location. Review local ordinances for height restrictions but as a general guide, keep plants compact and avoid plants with prickly branches.