From Grass To Garden -- When Parking Strips Become Planting Patches

LIKE THE FIRST BRAVE crocus blossoms of spring, a few Northend Seattle gardeners are heralding change. Escaping the rigors and regime demanded by lawns, these pioneers are creating parking-strip gardens filled with flowers, herbs, shrubs and trees.

An emergent anti-lawn sentiment sparks the growing number of gardens in what is popularly known as the parking strip. Dubbed the "planting strip" by city engineers, slice land sandwiched between sidewalk and curb may be planted, but it is now illegal to park there.

"When I was growing up, I always spent Saturday taking care of the yard," grimaces Vince Healy. "But this," as he gestures expansively to the dense jungle fronting his Loyal Heights home, "I can work on a bit at a time and if I let it go it doesn't look ratty." With a six-year history, his strip garden takes only half an hour per week during the growing season, he estimates.

An all-too-typical Seattle hillside convinced Michael Muscari and Mary Fran Joseph to redo their planting strip last year. "We have such steep stairs we didn't want to bring the mower up and down. And, we like flowers." The '92 drought and its water restrictions made that decision easier.

Their renovation began with planting several trees and sowing a commercial wildflower mix. This year brought the addition of several yuccas, a forsythia shrub, a number of herbs, perennial flowers such as poppies, and annuals that re-seed themselves such as bachelor

buttons, carpet of snow and pansies. Muscari, a recent member of the Washington Native Plant Society, reinforces the adage that gardens are always in process as he laments, "If I had it to do over, I would only use native plants."

Once established, a planting-strip garden is less labor-intensive than a similar expanse of lawn. Rigmor Hansen, for example, trims her collection of evergreen and flowering shrubs but once a year, waters rarely and keeps the need for weeding to a minimum with a thick cover of cedar chips.

A landscaper friend, after consultation with Hansen, dug out the grass and planted the woody shrubs and small trees. After 20 years with the easy care of a planting-strip garden, she wouldn't have it any other way.

With a cottage-garden ideal in mind, Tony Long and Rosemary Asul found "We didn't want to mow, so every year we dig up more of the lawn." That approach extended early on to the planting strip. Ten years ago, they planted two hazelnut trees and covered the zone with a glory of iris rhizomes. As these needed dividing, spring bulbs went in. Now a delightful succession of early flowers - daffodil, tulip, bearded iris, Japanese iris and poppy - wave under the low tree boughs.

Besides liberation from mowing, these gardens make good ecological sense. No herbicides (weed-killers) and fertilizers need foul the environment. Trees and plants cleanse the air and use significantly less water, especially if drought-tolerant species are planted.

"Drought-tolerant selections are really being impressed on us in the (Arboretum Foundation) garden club by our professional members," says Liz Picini, who began strip gardening in 1981 and finds more time for gardening since her retirement several years ago. Originally planned and planted by her son Ken (now a graduate of the Horticulture Program at Edmonds Community College and a professional gardener in New York), the strip garden has evolved.

A veritable who's who of the perennial plant world find a home on the Picini planting strip. Ornamental grasses, strawberries, hyacinth, day lilies, poppies, scented geraniums, lavender, pansies, woolly thyme, daisies, sweet william, azalea and a dozen more share the space with wide paving-stone walkways. Drip irrigation keeps the mix healthy with a minimum amount of precious water.

Despite its ecological good sense and its labor-saving appeal, planting-strip gardens are catching on for a reason closer to the heart. "It's more often we're down here picking flowers for the table than anything else," explains Michael Muscari.

"I want it to look like a bouquet - roses, ferns and a lot of different textures," says Jennifer Sughura, whose strip is graced with 15 rose bushes and canterbury bells, lupine, daisies, chrysanthemums and two flowering plum trees.

"If I am going to do all that work, I'd rather do it for flowers," Sughura says. Spending a few minutes outside gardening defuses being home with three young children. Brightening the house with flowers is an added bonus.

"You make an impact on people that you're often unaware of," say Tony Long and Rose Mary Asul, who wow their North Ballard neighborhood with their romantic aesthetic. Many passersby comment on the garden's rich floral beauty.

Vince Healy's planting strip has an Eden-esque quality. Hummocks and mounds add height variation and the diversity of plants intensifies the interest. Ferns and ornamental grasses provide a low-maintenance cover in a shaded area. Near the home's door the strip abounds with flowers such as hollyhock, fox gloves, iris, peruvian lily, poppies, nasturtiums, columbines, lavender and culinary herbs. Amongst all these are the occasional vegetable, a few trees and woody shrubs.

But that's not all that makes the planting strip garden special to Healy. Most important is the human connection. "Lots of these plants have stories. People will give me some and it's nice to remember them by. And then when other people move into a new house or do things, I pass it on." Divisions of perennial flowers, cuttings and thinned plants are among those he has received and given.

As Healy has discovered, "It's easier to give away flowers than zucchini."

Mary C. Wright is a Seattle freelance writer. Greg Gilbert is a Seattle Times photographer.

------------- PLANT BY CODE ------------- TREE PLANTING ON PARKING strips must conform to Seattle city standards for height, type and spacing. Conifers are not recommended due to visibility impairment; some trees known as disease carriers are prohibited. The Seattle City Arborist has put together several publications to assist in the selection of appropriate trees. Pick up "Recommended Seattle Street Tree List" (Publication 525) and "Description of Selected Small and Medium Street Trees" (Publication 526) at the City's Engineering Department permit counter (fifth floor, City of Seattle Building, 600 Fourth Ave.).

The code restricts plantings for those homes within 30 feet of intersections. Trees, shrubs or flowers must be less than two feet in height to insure adequate visibility at corners. No planting may overhang or prevent free use of the sidewalk or street. In the autumn, or as plants pass their prime, keep wilted and dead stalks cut back to keep the sidewalks clear.

Caution should also be used with utility installations. If underground cables service your home or you are unsure of water line locations, contact the utility before digging. - Seattle Engineering Department, Street Use Division, "Street and Sidewalk Use Code," Chapter 15.42)

----------------------------------- HOW TO CONVERT FROM GRASS TO GARDEN -----------------------------------

- Get the grass out. Turn it over and let it decompose for several months or dig it out.

- Prepare the soil. Add as much organic material - manure, compost, zoo-doo - as possible. Consider planting potatoes in summer or rye in winter to boost the soil's nitrogen content.

- Put in one or more paths for access to the street and parked cars. Use them once the soil is prepared, since walking on the soil compacts it and makes it less hospitable to plantings.

- Consider mounding the dirt in ways to create height variations. Hummocks provide excellent showcases for low-growing ground covers.

- Begin simply. Planting trees and woody shrubs in autumn or late winter was the first step for many gardeners. Herbs and perennial flowers are favorites for long-term impact at a fair price; spring-flowering bulbs provide that welcome "winter is over" lift.

- Stick to your favorites and plant plenty of these to get drifts of color and increased impact.

- Allow the garden space to evolve with the passing years. Do not expect perfection in one season.

- Consider color compositions and seasonal variations. Nurseries, books and garden magazines can help narrow the options.

- Mulch heavily with bark dust and wood chips. It helps keep weeds down, retains moisture in the soil and gives a finished look to the strip. As it decomposes, it can be turned in to enrich the soil.

- Drip irrigation might be installed, although many do without it for their planting-strip gardens.

- Gardening neighbors are great sources of assistance and inspiration. Washington's Cooperative Extension has many publications and will help with problems through their Master Gardener Program (296-3900). The Center for Urban Horticulture at the University of Washington offers classes, lectures and information (685-8033). The Arboretum garden and its tours provide education and inspiration (543-8800).