The City of Onkaparinga’s new Verge planting guide helps you make your verge – the area between your house and the road – a thing of beauty.
The guide offers tips on creating a plan for your verge, selecting plants and bringing your garden to life.
It also includes five great design ideas to spark your imagination: dryland, natural coastal, flowering meadow, edible plant and native formal gardens.
But there’s no need to limit yourself to these designs. You can make your verge as unique as you are, providing you adhere to a few rules and make sure the area is safe and accessible.
Matt Briggs, Coordinator Open Space Operations at Onkaparinga, says there are so many good reasons to plant on your verge.
“You can make your neighbourhood attractive and welcoming while you help cool streets and reduce the rate of global warming,” Matt says.
“You reduce the loss of rainwater and help with stormwater management.
“And you create habitat for creatures like butterflies while linking natural areas of green space so wildlife can move through the district.”
Verges are owned by the council but if you plant on your verge in line with the guide you do not need council approval.
For example, make sure you do not plant, remove or damage street trees – these are the responsibility of the council. And keep clear access for people and pets getting in and out of cars and for pedestrians using the verge and the footpath, as well as for your bins.
If you intend to introduce built elements or hard surfaces such as pavers, retaining walls or rocks you will need to seek council permission.
You should also consider contacting Before You Dig Australia to avoid underground pipes and wires.
The Verge planting guide is available on the City of Onkaparinga website.