Looking to start my first pollination habitat this year – Does anyone have experience with roadside wildflower beds? NYS/Zone 5b

NYS/Zone 5b

I have a unique area that I’d like to add as a pollination habitat. A side portion of the yard, narrow strip with very little and quiet human activity. Measures approximately 50’ long x 7’ wide before climbing into a steep roadside ditch.

The town comes through and “tries” to cut tall weeds back while also taking the blades and shredding apart the whole top inch of soil (which is why I’d like to do this, I think it’ll help be one less area they have to mow). I did plan to stay back 2’ from the shoulder of the road. I also planned on getting multiple NO MOW and NO SPRAY signs. It currently grows tall grasses The soil is a sandy soil and the highway dept. uses sand for winter road traction.

My question is the steep ditch portion. Do I own that or does the town own it or something? Do I need permission from the town to create a wildflower habitat there? If you have a roadside habitat, did you request permission from your town, village etc. or did you just plant away?

Also…. With the ditch just tall grasses and natural weeds, should I not disturb the soil and plant wildflowers? Just leave it natural and let it grow out or should I tend to it?

*Thank you* NYS/Zone 5b