Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Nature strips help create Canberra’s “garden city” character.
Nature strips, otherwise known as street verges, help create Canberra’s “garden city” character.
On most streets, nature strips include footpaths for people walking and cycling. Meaning there are certain things a nature strip can and cannot be used for.
Looking after verges is a responsibility shared by the ACT Government and residents, and there are lots of ways Canberrans can use them.
Before you do anything to your nature strip, read the Nature Strip Guidelines in detail.
Here are some of the things you can do to your verge that don’t require approval.
Plant a veggie garden
You can use your nature strip to plant a vegetable garden with seasonal produce of your choosing.
Fiona Buining of Ainslie Urban Farm says that a verge garden can be planted in less than two hours.
Read Fiona’s tips on planting a vegetable garden on your nature strip.
Plant grass, groundcover or shrubs
Read up on which plants you can use and avoid spiky plants and any weeds or plants that have been declared pest plants. Natives are a great place to start, especially if you are new to landscaping – but if you prefer an exotic grass, a dryland blend is the go-to in Canberra’s climate.
Remember to keep all plants below 50 centimetres (or 20 centimetres if you live in a bushfire prone area ).
Install compacted gravel
Adding gravel to your nature strip can help capture water runoff and improve the quality of stormwater.
There are some limits on the amount and size of gravel you can use so be sure to do your research.
Use organic mulch
When adding organic mulch like pine bark to your verge, please ensure it is free of stones, soils and other contaminants.
Keep a 50 millimetre clearance from tree trunks and remember to rake it flush with surrounding levels.
Erect temporary protective fencing
If you’ve just planted grass or plants and you want to protect your newly refreshed nature strip, you can erect temporary fencing made of rope or string, supported by stakes.
The fencing can be up for a maximum of 13 weeks. It mustn’t pose a safety hazard to the public.
Install garden edging
You can install garden edging on your verge if it’s made of stone, brick or timber.
The edging can have a maximum height of 150 millimetres, and a depth of 100 millimetres below the surface of the nature strip.
Always remember to contact Before you Dig – 1100, before you start work.
Things you can do to your nature strip that require approval:
- erect bollards to prevent parking on the nature strip
- modify an existing driveway or construct a new driveway
- store landscaping materials for longer than two weeks
- store a skip or construction material.
Things that are unlikely to be approved for your nature strip:
- ponds
- water fountains
- permanent fencing
- retaining walls
- letterboxes
- shipping containers
- chicken runs
- play equipment
- boulders
- pavers or concrete paths
- new trees.
Parking on the nature strip is prohibited and remember that if you live in a heritage precinct – like some areas of Ainslie, Braddon, Reid and parts of the inner south – you may not be able to make changes to the nature strip in front of your home.
For more information, read the Nature Strip Guidelines.
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