"Let's Get to the Bottom of Park Strips Once & For Now"
Tired of Fighting a Brown Lawn? 💧
Turn your park strip or yard from "water-thirsty" to water-wise!
As part of Our Sustainable Future initiative, let’s talk about how each of us can do our part.
A good place to start is in our own apartment, townhouse, duplex or home property. While this article focuses on park strips, educating your apartment complex manager, your HOA Board or rolling up your sleeves in your own yard or park strip, education and communication is key.
Our very future relies on addressing ongoing drought, rising year-round temperatures and depletion of water to Great Salt Lake threatening to make airborne the toxic minerals of the lakebed.
SUGGESTIONS:
!. Use mulch 3’ around base of your trees to hold in moisture.
2. Consider using Simple Permaculture Method for changing to water-wise Park Strip:
Skip the Plastic: Pile on 6-inch layer of wood chips directly over area. This heavy layer mimics a forest floor, smothering weeds while locking deep moisture into the soil.
Go Native: Plant beautiful, drought-tolerant species
Establish & Save: Give light watering for two seasons. Once established, these tough plants can survive entirely on Utah's natural rainfall.
🌸 Great Native Plants for Park Strips that are under 24 Inches in height:
Western Yarrow (White blooms, great ground cover)
Firecracker Penstemon (Bright red/hummingbirds love)
Utah Agave (Distinctive architectural evergreen)
Sulfur Flower Buckwheat (Native bees love!)
What is a Park Strip?
"Any landscaped area between curb line and sidewalk or fenceline in any public or private right of way. Park Strips, though adjacent to landowner, are a public right of way that Cottonwood Heights requires the adjacent landwoner ito be responsible for and maintain.
Can I simply lay down all rocks?
Known as "hard scape", rocks or other impermeable coverings cannot cover more than 50% of the park strip. That is, unless the total square footage is less than 200 sq. ft.
What about trees in the park strip?
According to CWH Ordinance 343, at maturity, the height must be a minimum of 10 feet; the trunk or trunks measuring a minimum of 4 inches in diameter.Branches must be 13.5' above road surface. For futher information, see Cottonwood Heights Ordinance 343.
Are there prohibited materials?
Yes. Prohibited materials in a park strip in Cottonwod Heights include:
· poured concrete
· asphalt
· thorn-bearing vegetation
· artificial turf
Further references:
Our Sustainable Future: Healthy, affordable practices that unite us.
