I know the front beds don’t look like much but I have a ton of flowers that line the street. However, neighbors keep parking in a way that blocks access to the house.
I wish I had a better photo of it in season but you can kind of see where nothing is growing because the mailman frequently has to walk in my bed to access my house. I’ve also been charged to reschedule deliveries/yard work because they can’t access my house safely.
Does anyone have any ideas to make it more obvious to not block the walkway? A little gate? An arch? Two taller plants flanking the walkway? A sign?
I would love any ideas on how to better highlight the walkway. Thank you!
by ShortRaccoon1184
21 Comments
People ignore flowers and they will definitely ignore a polite little sign. If you want to stop cars from parking across your walkway you have to use heavy hardscape right at the street line. Get two large concrete planters or build a couple of chunky stone pillars and set them immediately on either side of where your concrete path meets the asphalt. Drivers subconsciously avoid pulling up tight against heavy objects that might dent their bumpers and it immediately tells delivery guys exactly where the entrance is.
Right now your winter garden is just a flat patch of dormant stems which is exactly why the mailman walks all over it. You are entirely missing your evergreen layer. You need a solid mass of evergreens like winter gem boxwood or inkberry holly lining that front edge behind your new planters. That gives the walkway permanent year round structure and physically funnels foot traffic down the concrete instead of through your dirt. Combine heavy hardscape at the street edge with a solid evergreen border and your problem is solved.
Put two really thorny bushy whole roses at the end
I don’t think walkways like that are expected to be left unblocked like driveways are. If every house on a street had a driveway and a walkway that couldn’t be blocked, that would be sooo many parking spaces skipped.
What are the on-street parking ordinances of your location? This situation may be perfectly legal.
Love your front yard! Yay wild flowers over grass!
Is it a no parking zone, if so call and have them ticketed.
Call the police
Sometimes some simple boulders does the job best.
Do what your neighbor opposite has done and add a very obvious fence and gated area. Add more landscaping.
You don’t explain if this is legal parking..
Have you talked to the owner of the car?
https://preview.redd.it/ukpjhfdpwnng1.jpeg?width=494&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=754580a30c76f08e3bade5db70a84f4d69c08197
Add sign to gate: “Please do not park in front of gate” or words to that effect
What about a big arbor over the walkway? Grow some honeysuckle or clematis on it. That would definitely be noticeable.
I used to live in your neighborhood. Such ❤️❤️❤️ there, but yeah it’s a tight fit for parking next to those two apartments up the hill, and then down around the corner.
If you have a survey of your property, you may find that your property line starts a little further back than you expected. So, anyone that suggests that you put a big boulder in your front yard isn’t wrong, but you’ll find that you don’t have the legal right to put an obstruction in the right of way. It doesn’t mean that you can’t, but you should just be aware. It only matters if someone calls you on it, or if someone damages their car because of whatever you put in the right of way (unlikely stuff, but just be aware).
We used to lived on the other side of the circle, the house with the Japanese maple in the front yard. We ended up moving our fence back a little to make way for stuff (the fence is still a little bit in the right of way)… You might have to put up a fence to allow for pedestrian traffic and to protect your plantings.
Enjoy the neighborhood while you’re there, it’s a great place!
Your plants/landscaping probably go into the public right of way which blocks access to your house, not the parked car. I’m surprised the mailman hasn’t complained and you haven’t had to remove your encroaching plants. I would definitely remove it as in certain juristictions, you can get sued for injuries caused.
There is nothing you can do about people parking on the street in front of your house.
I’m sorry OP, but it would never cross my mind to not park in front of a sidewalk like yours. Not blocking driveways is understandable (and a ticketable/towable offense), but sidewalks just aren’t the same. I totally get why you want people to not park there, but people aren’t going to intuit that based on your plantings/landscaping. In my neighborhood, people often put pavers down along the street side of their tree lawn, giving people an easy place to stand while getting out of their cars without impacting their gardens. Something like that might work for you?
landscape some stones to walk-on
The whole point of a sidewalk is to use it, to walk on it and to keep people off your lawn/plants. People who park there know they’re blocking the use of the sidewalk and they don’t care. Putting a large planter on each side of the sidewalk is a good idea, may not work, but it can’t hurt. Don’t be surprised if they get stolen or broken. If it prevents people from opening their door, then they will work and not block your sidewalk.
Paint the curb hi-vis
If it’s already a natural walking path best put in a stepping stone or 2 and plant around it. As far as the cars parking there, tell your neighbours your situation with missing mail or put a Pilon at the end of your walk.
Better find out what the restrictions are on interfering with street parking before you do anything!