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Hellstrip Plantings in Frankenmuth, Michigan

Plant Info

 hellstrip garden and inn

Let’s look again at the “hell strip”- that patch of your property between the road and the sidewalk. Hell strip plantings take all kinds of abuse but also are in a prime location for viewing. This time we gain inspiration from a darling tourist destination in northeastern Michigan. Germans settled Frankenmuth, MI  in 1845 and have held on to some serious roots for 170 years. Fabulous planters, window boxes, and annual displays highlight the shops lining Main Street all year long. The result is a cheerful, dazzling display that might just be worth the work.

 Dark burgundy tropical hellstrip garden

 green and yellow hellstrip garden

 hellstrip planting with tree

 Maintenance for hellstrip garden in Michigan

And it is work. The town maintains the hanging baskets and the hell strip plantings, and they do not mess around. The red truck in the image below waters the plants each day as needed, and one of the maintenance vehicles is outfitted with a boom so that the job requires only one employee. In summer the plantings are a wash of tropical foliage plants and annual color, and these plants require some serious care.

These plantings are like the antithesis to the golden drought-tolerant grasses we’ve seen elsewhere. Really, though, once you get the maintenance needs down, the display itself is compelling enough to consider babying a strip of your yard for a season. With a great planting media in place and good drainage, plants may really perform dazzlingly without much more attention than water.

If you want to work your hell strip with wild tropicals, consider really amending the soil that’s there. Add compost, keep the soil light and loamy, and mulch well. Consider a slow-release fertilizer and/or regular drenches with fertilizer. The plants will reward your hard work with a great display all summer long. The planting will keep lawn clippings and other debris from making its way to the storm drains, and best of all – it’s one less place you have to mow!

 elephant ear hellstrip garden

Michigan’s Little Bavaria was just amazing. The bright flowers, bold foliage, and beautiful combinations made me consider putting in the effort for a colorful tropical hellstrip planting.

  1. […] Looking for some container garden inspiration?  Check out these amazing containers! I love getting inspired by large corporate installations – they are so grand!  Our own home gardens might not require planters that tower overhead, but the punch and strength of these babies can be scaled to back patio size, at a fraction of the cost. These containers were outside a Michigan mall, and some were along the main street in Frankenmuth, MI. Check out other inspiration from Frankenmuth here! […]

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