As a landscape architect obsessed with transforming overlooked spaces, I think the parkway—the slender strip between sidewalk and street—offers some of the most creative design opportunities. Whether you’re after curb appeal or a pollinator haven, the right parkway landscaping can turn even the trickiest patch into a showstopper.
Can Decorative Pavers Double as Art?
A client once requested custom mosaic pavers through her parkway, and the splash of color made the whole block smile. Decorative pavers add personality, break up plantings, and invite guests to linger.
Make it happen with these:
- Colorful mosaic garden paver kits: Transform your walkway with bright mosaic paver kits and instantly boost curb appeal in any season.
- Concrete paver molds for DIY projects: Create personalized patterns using concrete paver molds and let your creativity shine in the parkway.
- Outdoor paver paint and sealer sets: Update existing pavers with weather-resistant paints and sealers, adding pops of color for lasting beauty.
How Can Mulch Make Your Parkway Pop?
The first time I swapped tired grass for a thick blanket of aromatic mulch, the transformation was instant—the whole strip looked tidier, and the soil stayed cool and moist beneath. Mulch not only suppresses weeds but also gives your parkway a finished, cohesive look.
Grab the essentials:
- Organic Wood Mulch for Landscaping: Refresh your parkway instantly—spread aromatic mulch to suppress weeds and retain vital moisture easily.
- Landscape Fabric Weed Barrier: Create a low-maintenance base—install landscape fabric under mulch to help minimize pesky weed growth.
- Mulch Shovel or Mulch Fork: Effortlessly spread mulch across your parkway—use a sturdy shovel or fork for speedy, even results.
Define Your Edge for Instant Curb Appeal
A client once told me her parkway finally felt ‘intentional’ after we installed a crisp metal edging between the planting bed and the sidewalk. Defined borders—whether with stone, steel, or brick—signal care and keep mulch and gravel exactly where they belong.
Essentials for this look:
- Metal landscape edging strips: Install metal edging strips to create a clean, defined border between sidewalks and your planting bed.
- Decorative stone garden edging: Use decorative stone edging to enhance the boundary and help keep mulch and soil in place.
- Plastic or steel edging stakes: Secure your landscape borders firmly with durable edging stakes that provide lasting stability for your project.
Add a Ribbon of Stepping Stones
After one too many muddy footprints, I started weaving stepping stones through my clients’ parkways, creating a graceful path for guests (and delivery folks) to cross. The stones break up plantings and keep feet dry—plus, they turn that narrow strip into a real landscape feature.
These may be of interest:
- Natural Stone Stepping Stones: Enhance your parkway with authentic stone stepping stones for a sturdy, attractive, and mud-free path.
- Landscape Edging Roll: Define the path and keep mulch tidy by installing flexible landscape edging along your stepping stone route.
- Mulch for Landscaping: Surround stepping stones with quality mulch to retain moisture and create a finished, cohesive look.
Unexpected Statement: Try a Parkway Mini Rock Garden
On one project, I placed a group of sculptural boulders among low succulents and dwarf grasses—the result felt like a tiny, modern rock garden that stopped passersby in their tracks. Mixing boulders and gravel with select plants adds drama and texture where you least expect it.
Helpful items for this idea:
- Decorative Landscape Boulders: Enhance your parkway with realistic landscape boulders for instant structure and eye-catching modern texture.
- Drought-Tolerant Succulent Plant Collection: Bring life and greenery to your rock garden with an easy-care mix of drought-tolerant succulents.
- Pea Gravel for Landscaping: Create a clean, low-maintenance ground cover that accentuates boulders and succulents with natural pea gravel.
Lush Yet Low: The Power of Ground Covers
When a client asked for no-mow, I filled her parkway with dense mats of creeping thyme and sedum—the effect was a tapestry of color that bloomed all summer. Ground covers not only choke out weeds but also soften edges and invite bare feet.
Products that may fit:
- Creeping Thyme Ground Cover Seeds: Transform your parkway with easy-to-grow creeping thyme seeds for seasonal color and weed suppression.
- Sedum Ground Cover Plants or Plugs: Add drought-tolerant sedum plants to fill your garden with lush texture and minimal maintenance needs.
- Eco-Friendly Landscape Fabric: Lay down landscape fabric beneath your ground covers to help reduce weeds and encourage healthy growth.
Ever Thought About a Parkway Meadow?
One of my favorite transformations features a miniature meadow of mixed native grasses and intermittent wildflowers—a soft, swaying sea that catches the light. The look is wild but organized, and the maintenance is far lower than a traditional lawn.
Possibly handy products:
- Native wildflower and grass seed mix: Create a beautiful meadow with easy-to-grow native seeds perfectly suited for low-maintenance, natural landscaping.
- Handheld garden seed spreader: Evenly distribute seeds in your parkway meadow for a full, flourishing look with less effort.
- Lightweight long-handle weeding tool: Keep your meadow tidy and attractive by easily removing unwanted weeds throughout the growing season.
Invite the Senses with Seasonal Bulbs
Every spring, my clients are delighted by the surprise of tulips, alliums, and daffodils popping up in their parkway beds. Mixing spring bulbs among perennials guarantees a burst of color just when you need it most.
A few picks to consider:
- Mixed Spring Flower Bulb Collection: Plant a variety of bulbs for a vibrant, ever-changing parkway display every spring. Enjoy easy bursts of color!
- Bulb Planter Tool: Make planting bulbs effortless with a sturdy bulb planter—plant evenly and save time in your parkway.
- Organic Bulb Fertilizer: Support healthy, long-lasting blooms with an organic fertilizer specially formulated for flowering bulbs.
Are Ornamental Grasses the Secret to Effortless Texture?
I once planted a parkway entirely with mid-height ornamental grasses—the way they catch the wind and light makes the strip feel alive even in winter. Grasses offer sculptural form, movement, and require almost no attention once established.
To help you get the job done:
- Ornamental Grass Seeds for Landscaping: Transform your parkway with easy-to-grow ornamental grasses, adding movement and dynamic texture year-round.
- Decorative Garden Mulch: Help your ornamental grasses thrive and suppress weeds with a layer of decorative garden mulch.
- Tall Landscape Edging: Keep your grasses neat and contained along the sidewalk with durable, attractive landscape edging solutions.
Mix and Match: The Joy of Contrasting Foliage
In one Portland project, I paired blue fescue with bright green sedges and rusty red carex—the mixed foliage colors and textures pulled the whole parkway design together. Layering contrasting plant textures turns a narrow strip into a dynamic focal point.
What you might need:
- Ornamental Grass Seed Mix: Transform your parkway with a vibrant ornamental grass mix for dynamic color and stunning contrast year-round.
- Decorative Landscape Edging: Define your mixed foliage plantings with durable edging to keep your parkway tidy and visually striking.
- Mulch for Flower Beds: Enhance plant color contrast and control weeds easily by adding rich mulch around your bold plantings.
Lesson Learned: Keep Visibility in Mind
I once got carried away with tall perennials and had to redo the corner after neighbors complained about blocked sightlines. Keeping plant heights below 30 inches at intersections is crucial for safety and friendly curb appeal.
A few useful items:
- Low-Growing Perennial Seeds Mix: Plant low-growing perennials to maintain clear sightlines and add lasting color to your parkway landscape.
- Compact Shrub Collection: Choose compact shrubs under 30 inches for tidy borders and improved safety at street intersections.
- Edging Fencing for Flower Beds: Install decorative edging to define planting zones and keep your low-profile plants neatly contained.
Unexpected: Make Room for Car Doors with Creative Gaps
On a busy street, I designed a parkway with a 15-inch gravel ‘step-out’ along the curb—now, passengers exit cars without trampling any plants. This practical, stylish buffer zone also keeps mulch and soil from spilling onto the street.
These products might help:
- Landscape edging for garden beds: Define the gravel gap and garden edge for a neat, durable, and easy-to-maintain transition zone.
- Decorative landscape gravel: Create a stylish, low-maintenance buffer that prevents soil spillover while allowing easy car door access.
- Weed barrier landscape fabric: Install under gravel to reduce weeds and keep your parking strip looking tidy with less maintenance.
Drought-Buster: Go All-In on Xeriscape
When water restrictions hit, I experimented with a parkway full of succulents, agave, and gravel—maintenance dropped to almost nothing, and the design still looked sharp year-round. Xeriscaped parkways are perfect for dry climates and sustainable gardening.
Useful items to consider:
- Assorted Succulent and Agave Live Plants: Add instant curb appeal with a mix of drought-tolerant succulents and agave for low-maintenance beauty.
- Decorative Landscape Gravel or Pebbles: Enhance your xeriscaped parkway’s look and drainage by spreading decorative gravel for a polished finish.
- Drip Irrigation Starter Kit for Gardens: Use a drip irrigation kit to efficiently water your xeriscape plants while conserving moisture and time.
Client Spotlight: From Mud Patch to Urban Oasis
One client’s parkway was a muddy, compacted wasteland until we loosened the soil, added compost, and planted a lush mix of perennials and grasses. Now, the entire block stops to admire the transformation each season.
Some relevant options:
- Soil Aerator Tool: Loosen compacted soil easily to improve drainage and help your new plants thrive in your parkway bed.
- Organic Compost: Enrich your garden beds with nutrient-rich organic compost to support lush perennial and grass growth.
- Perennial Grass and Flower Seed Mix: Add colorful, low-maintenance beauty to your parkway with a perennial grass and flower seed mix.
Sensory Snapshot: Night-Scented Parkway Plantings
On summer evenings, I love the waft of sweet alyssum and evening primrose spilling over the edge, their scent mixing with the cool night air. Fragrant plants turn your parkway into a sensory gateway for everyone passing by after dusk.
Explore these options:
- Evening primrose and sweet alyssum seed mix: Sow these fragrant seeds to line your parkway, delighting passersby with scent on summer nights.
- Decorative solar garden lights for walkways: Light your parkway plantings after dark for extra atmosphere and nighttime curb appeal effortlessly.
- Organic garden mulch for flower beds: Mulch helps your night-scented blooms thrive and keeps the parkway beds tidy and healthy.
Lesson Learned: Don’t Overcrowd the Roots
Early in my career, I packed too many plants under a mature street tree and watched them struggle—tree roots won every time. Now, I select tough, shade-tolerant ground covers and plant sparingly in root-heavy parkways for long-term success.
You might like:
- Shade-tolerant ground cover seed mix: Choose shade-tolerant ground cover seeds to create a thriving, low-maintenance parkway beneath mature trees.
- Hand cultivator for root-heavy soil: Use a hand cultivator to gently loosen soil without disturbing established tree roots during planting.
- Mulch for tree surrounds: Apply mulch around tree roots to retain moisture and limit weeds, supporting healthier ground cover plants.
Unexpected: Design a Parkway for Dogs—Not Against Them
After years of watching dogs (and their humans) trample plantings, I started including a dog ‘pee stone’ corner—using porous rocks that absorb and localize canine traffic. It’s a neighborly compromise that keeps the rest of the garden looking sharp.
Consider these options:
- Porous landscape stones for dog-friendly areas: Create a dedicated dog ‘pee stone’ corner and localize canine traffic with durable, porous landscaping rocks.
- Pet-safe weed barrier fabric: Lay down a pet-safe weed barrier fabric beneath your rocks to help keep your landscaping tidy and clean.
- Dog deterrent sprays for landscaping: Direct dogs toward the pee stone area by lightly misting other beds with pet-safe deterrent spray.
Descriptive: Year-Round Structure With Evergreen Shrubs
I often tuck in low-growing evergreens like dwarf boxwood or juniper to keep the parkway green even when perennials fade. These evergreen anchors provide structure, winter interest, and help define the planting bed all year.
May just do the trick:
- Live evergreen shrubs for landscaping: Add low-maintenance, year-round structure to your parkway with easy-care live evergreen shrubs.
- Dwarf boxwood shrub starter plants: Enhance green coverage and defined borders by planting hardy dwarf boxwood shrub starter plants.
- Creeping juniper ground cover plants: Select creeping juniper ground cover plants for all-season color and attractive edging along walkways.
Bold Claim: Parkway Gardens Start Neighborhood Conversations
I’ve lost count of how many neighbors I’ve met while tinkering in my parkway—these gardens are magnets for curious passersby and spontaneous chats. Beautifying your own strip can spark a wave of inspiration up and down the whole block.
Items that may come in handy:
- Perennial Wildflower Seed Mix: Transform your parkway with easy-to-plant wildflowers, adding color and attracting pollinators to your strip.
- Decorative Garden Edging: Define your garden’s border and keep pathways neat with easy-to-install decorative garden edging solutions.
- Adjustable Garden Hose Nozzle Set: Make watering new plantings a breeze with a versatile garden hose nozzle set for all your needs.