Maintenance issues are the biggest problems with parking strips. Municipalities have the right-of-way in park strips, however, homeowners are responsible for maintaining them.
Very narrow parking strips with lack of effective irrigation can also create maintenance problems.
Problems with Parking Strips
Irrigation
- Difficult to irrigate due to their long narrow shape, overspray onto sidewalks and streets is common
- Odd shapes may need drip systems for effective irrigation to the plant root zones
- Parking strips in older neighborhoods may not have had pressurized sprinkler systems installed
- Oops, I forgot about watering the parking strip
Mowing
- Mowing turf in parking strips can be difficult, especially in odd shapes spaces
Snow
- Plows may damage plants
- Heavy snow may damage plants
Road Salt
- Damages turf in particular – patches of bare dirt attract weedy plants
Leaves
- Plants under trees may be damaged unless leaves are carefully removed
Pests
- Stressed plants in small narrow areas may be more susceptible to a variety of pests
Weeds
- Neglected, poorly irrigated park strips result in patchy plantings, allowing weed encroachment
Tree Roots
- Inappropriate tree species and planting method can cause heaving of sidewalks adjacent to park strips
Design for Access
- Pedestrians may need access across the parking strip
- People with a variety of abilities may need access through the park strip necessitating designs that are inclusive
Soils and drainage
- Poorly drained clay soils can cause water-logging and stress plants, particularly those that are water-wise