Evolution of a Hellstrip ....

So, a dear friend of mine was fretting over one portion of the hellstrip on her corner lot. A hellstrip is that little bit of land between the road and the sidewalk. It’s notorious for being a tough spot to have great grass. We looked at her trouble spot which catches a lot of heat from the surrounding concrete and asphalt. Grass was struggling to grow there even with the area getting a lot of supplemental water. I suggested trying a patchwork of succulents and other low-growing heat tolerant perennials. Most shrubs wouldn’t work since they could block the driver’s view and access to the sidewalk. She took my suggestions to heart and embarked on cleaning out the area in June 2019.

As you see in the progression of photos below from 2019 thru 2023, the grass was cleared and a few succulents (sedums) were added. Ornamental thyme joined the succulents, along with various pots and a low birdbath for some visual height and interest. A red yucca and an ornamental Dune grass provide some extra height too without being overwhelming. Note the Dune grass is in a container because it proved to be too aggressive at spreading. As she planted, small rocks were spread around to provide contrast, to hold the soil, and to deter weeds. The main cost was from the small rocks. The initial succulents were cuttings from me and the red yucca and Dune grass came from neighbors. She has added some hens and chicks, thyme, and ice plants. Her yearly maintenance involves some spot weeding and at this point, selective thinning of some of the succulents.

This hellstrip is an absolutely lovely spot to stroll by!

** Looks like the image gallery is not showing on mobile devices. Try your laptop to view them until we figure out what is happening. **