When moving from Oak & Monkey Puzzle to Little Cottage on a Hill, I was looking for a small space that wouldn’t feel small—a place where I could synthesise the best of the lessons learned over my nine years at Oak & Monkey Puzzle. I considered properties on the edge of town and another near a gully, but when I found the little cottage diagonally opposite the Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens, I knew it was something special. With its deep volcanic soils and wide verges, it presented an incredible opportunity.
Council constraints became opportunities. The sloping embankment, rather than a challenge, was a chance to create an ornamental buffer to the street while also capturing runoff before it reached the lower planting areas. The guidelines encouraged thoughtful design—respecting setbacks, ensuring clear sightlines, and integrating plantings with essential services. What could have felt like restrictions became a framework for creativity.
Whilst I never created a drawing, everything was down ‘on the ground’. The process of creating the verge garden began with meticulous planning. I measured offsets to ensure compliance with council guidelines, first marking out areas with pegs and string before refining them with surveyor’s spray paint. Removing the grass was the first major task. Given my timeframe, I opted for an excavator to scalp the grass from the designated areas, but for those with more time, solarisation—covering the grass with a tarp or thick mulch for several months—is a viable, chemical-free alternative. I personally don’t support the use of herbicides in any form.
With the space cleared, the verge garden became a site for experimentation in three dimensions. Being on a corner block, the garden is split into two aspects: a west-facing section and a north-facing one, each with its own microclimate. This has allowed me to play with espaliered fruit trees, climbing frames, and cloched elements (I use Redpath cloches, which provide protection and extend the growing season). Repurposed materials have also featured heavily—leftover sections of Wattle & Wire fencing found new life in this space. The company has since retired, and the gardening world is poorer for it—someone needs to step in and revive those incredible products!
Edimentals—plants that are both edible and ornamental—play a starring role in the verge garden. From productive fruit trees to herbs that soften the edges and invite pollinators, the plant selection is a blend of beauty and function. This approach ensures that the garden remains not only productive but also a visually engaging part of the streetscape, fostering curiosity and interaction from passersby.
Hepburn Shire’s nature strip planting guidelines have been invaluable in shaping this project. They provide clarity on what can be planted without a permit and what requires council approval (including raised garden beds and small trees). For those considering their own verge garden in the shire, I highly recommend reviewing the full guidelines, which can be found on the Hepburn Shire Council website: hepburn.vic.gov.au/naturestrips.
The verge garden at Little Cottage on a Hill is more than just an extension of my home garden—it’s a public space, an experiment in design, and a statement about how small spaces can be both beautiful and abundant. It’s an invitation to rethink what a nature strip can be.
For anyone considering their own verge garden, my advice is to start small, embrace council constraints as design prompts, and think about how your space can contribute to the broader landscape. These gardens are a conversation with the community—places where people stop, admire, and, sometimes, even share in the harvest.
A verge garden is more than just plants—it’s a chance to bring beauty, productivity, and connection to your street. Start small, work with your space, and let it evolve. Whether it’s a handful of herbs or a tapestry of edimentals, every planting adds to the richness of the landscape.
Thinking of transforming your verge? I’d love to hear your plans—share them below!
If you’re new here, welcome! You might enjoy these stories:
Documenting Little Cottage on a Hill – A garden shaped by hand and heart.
Gardens, Growth, and Community – My journey in landscape and garden-making.
Garden Tour — A closer look at the spaces I’ve created.
Or, if you’d love to learn alongside me, explore my upcoming workshops here: https://www.natashamorgan.com.au/shop
I’d love to see you there!
Natasha xx
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