Gardening Australia’s Costa has pioneered verge planting and the City of Onkaparinga is taking it up a level with a comprehensive how-to guide.

The verge is the area between the road and a property boundary.

Local councils own verges and are responsible for street trees planted on them and for safe public access across them.

Onkaparinga council’s verge planting guide provides information and inspiration to help to create a great verge.

It includes five suggested designs that are practical and beautiful.

They are a dryland garden, a coastal garden, a flowering meadow garden, an edible garden and a native garden.

Tips and guidelines cover plant selection, water and soil retention, maintenance and how to accommodate pedestrians and kerbside bins.

The full guide is available as a pdf.