Urge to Verge – Gardening Australia

SERIES 36 | Episode 13

Among a sea of suburban streets in northern Brisbane, Jerry meets a passionate gardener who sees potential for growth in our roadside verges.

Gayle Dallaston had removed all the grass from the rest of her property and was fed up with mowing her nature strip, so she decided to convert the grass to garden instead. 

She asked the council for a street tree and was given a Queensland Brush Box, which she underplanted with midyim berries, westringia, and some native groundcovers – dichondra, mazus and violets. The mazus is usually found in swampy areas but despite the dryness, it does well in heavy shade and Gayle’s clay soil.

Gaps in the plantings were filled with paper daisies (Xerochrysum bracteatum cv.).

Gayle considered the safely aspect of every plant and the overall design: 

Strappy dianellas were positioned away from the footpath to avoid their long leaves becoming a tripping hazard. Nothing spikey has been planted. Pedestrian access was also considered as part of her planting design – she left a mulched path that lines up with a walkway on the opposite side of the road, and this allows passengers to easily get out of cars and cross the verge, too.Gayle also watched the postman’s usual route and left a pathway for him to reach the letter box.All of Gayle’s plant choices are low enough to allow good sight lines for car drivers, pedestrian and cyclists to easily see each other. Low-growing forms of bottlebrush (Callistemon ‘Little John’) were useful here. Larger plants, such as crinum lilies, sit against the fence without blocking anyone’s vision.

Gayle said it took her about eight months to plant out the verge, and she was struck by all the conversation it prompted with neighbours and passers-by.

She also noticed how the local wildlife reacted to the extended garden, with blue-tongue lizards exploring the area, native bees visiting, and various birds, including a noisy friarbird nesting in her street tree.  

Jerry also notices the huge difference between Gayle’s street trees and the one planted in her neighbour’s verge at the same time: Gayle’s tree, surrounded by low shrubs, looks far healthier and more lush than the neighbouring one surrounded by grass and exposed to mowing and whipper snippers. 

Gayle has found that while some neighbours like the verge garden idea, they baulk at the idea of doing their own gardens, believing it requires more effort. She’s also aware that verge gardens can be the source of serious disputes; she feels this is often due to people feeling that you’re taking over public space for yourself.

So now she runs a project to help other gardeners plan any changes to their verge; checking with their local council, understanding what the restrictions are, which plants to choose, how to make it affordable, and the maintenance needed. 

Featured Plants QUEENSLAND BRUSH BOXLophostemon confertusMIDYIM BERRYAustromyrtus dulcisCOASTAL ROSEMARYWestringia fruticosa cv.SWAMP MAZUSMazus pumilioFLAX-LILYDianella brevipedunculataPAPER DAISYXerochrysum bracteatum cv.BOTTLEBRUSHCallistemon ‘Little John’GIANT CRINUMCrinum asiaticum var. pedunculatumBOOBIALLAMyoporum boninense subsp. australe

Filmed on Turrbal Country | Bridgeman Downs, Qld