Don't invest too much money or emotion into the plants
Don't invest too much money or emotion into the plants
The more you invest in the plants, the more it will hurt if they are trampled, broken, or stolen.
This is public land so you'll have dogs peeing on your plants, people walking on them, picking off pieces or even taking whole plants.
Using tubestock and cuttings, especially in vulnerable spots, will reduce your losses. I also like to think of it as growing biodiversity including the soil, so plants that come and go fit into that plan.
The most expensive plant on my verge, apart from the council street tree, was a gift and I was expected to put it on the verge.
It was a little low-growing banksia, a lovely plant and this one was perfectly shaped with three branches. I planted it on the larger part of the verge not too far from the tree.
The next morning one of those three branches had been snapped off.
I've had the wheelie bins dragged across the garden, tradies stomping through the middle, people picking flowers (which I don't mind), and of course there are the dogs!
"Helpful" neighbours and their paid gardeners will mow any prized plants that look remotely like grass.
This is public land so you just have to take it on the chin.
The more you invest in the plants, the more it will hurt if they are trampled, broken, or stolen.
Keep reminding yourself that tubestock and cuttings will reduce your losses. I also like to think of it as growing biodiversity including the soil, so plants that come and go fit into that plan.
See some tips on avoiding vandalism and theft.
Keep your special plants, along with all those features like birdbaths, inside the fence.
This free article is part of the Understanding the Space section: bite-sized introductions to gardening in these small but wonderfully complex spaces.