Roadway Landscaping: 3 Top Tips
If your property has a roadway which runs through it, you will want to include this area in any renovation of the landscaping. However, when designing the landscaping for a roadway involves different skills than those needed when landscaping open areas of land. It is important that any landscaping does not create a hazard for road users and that it is robust enough to deal with the roadside environment. Below is a guide which will help you to plan the roadway landscaping on your property.
Establish the growth height of any shrubs or trees
Shrubs and trees help to shield any buildings from the road, helping to reduce traffic noise. However, it is important that you take into account the growth height of the shrubs and trees which you select for planting. If you do not plant shrubs and trees which are already fully grown, you should keep in mind that they will gain height as time passes and could eventually obscure the view of road users who are trying to look at road signs. You should consider hiring a landscaper who can help to keep any shrubs and trees in good order by frequently trimming them.
Assess if you need to lay down mulch
It is likely that the land surrounding your building will be graded, so it slopes away from the property toward the roadway. This grading encourages water to flow away from the foundations of the building and protects it from damage. However, if you are planning to create a layer of mulch on the roadside, you should carefully consider how much moisture the plants require. Laying down mulch will trap moisture in the soil. If you live in a hot climate or the shrubs and trees in this location require a lot of water, then mulch can be a good choice. However, in other circumstances, a layer of mulch can cause excess water to collect by the roadside which can harm plants and create an unsightly mud patch.
Avoid bushes and trees which flower
The bushes and trees which are situated by the roadside will be exposed to high levels of exhaust fumes. For this reason, you should avoid planting bushes and trees which flower as part of your roadway landscaping. The flowers on trees and shrubs are extremely delicate and will quickly dry out and wilt when exposed to exhaust fumes and other pollutants. This can make your roadside landscaping look sad and your plants unhealthy. Instead, you should opt for hardy plant varieties such as spruce and verbena.
If you would like further advice, you should contact a professional landscaping company.