Don't pick fights or frighten the horses
Some verge gardeners like to think of what they are doing as a protest, or as guerrilla gardening. They resent council rules and don't see why they should follow them.
Planting a veggie patch would have created outrage in my very "hedge and lawn" street even though it would have been within council guidelines.
I started more formally and used some westringia balls (picture below) and straight lines to reassure neighbours that it would still fit in. Over the years, as even the more doubtful neighbours have adapted, it has grown less formal.
Some verge gardeners like to think of what they are doing as a protest, or as guerrilla gardening. They resent council rules and don't see why they should follow them.
We cover this more in group and collaboration projects but for individual gardeners, here are a few thoughts:
Do you want to make a point, or make a difference?
You can dig your heels in and fight, or you can just get on with making a difference - increasing biodiversity, inspiring neighbours, and learning more about this complicated space.
I like to play the long game. My focus is on achieving mainstream action to increase biodiversity, to green and cool our cities, and for everyone to collaborate on doing as much as we can, as fast as we can, as we face the looming climate issues.
I won't waste time, energy, or resources on skirmishes.
This free article is part of the Understanding the Space section: bite-sized introductions to gardening in these small but wonderfully complex spaces.