2 questions about where i can plant in front of my house - Ask Extension
So I have a little row of grass between my sidewalk and the road. I would love to plant a tree there like I've seen loads of other people do, but the ...
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2 questions about where i can plant in front of my house #930249
Asked May 01, 2026, 9:44 AM EDT
So I have a little row of grass between my sidewalk and the road. I would love to plant a tree there like I've seen loads of other people do, but the divide doesn't seem to be as big as what other people have. Am I ok to plant something like a fringe-tree there? Also I have some ugly internet boxes in front. Would I be allowed to plant a tall grass like switchgrass or bluestem around it to hide it a bit?
Anne Arundel County Maryland
Expert Response
You would need to ask the utility company what they'll allow regarding vegetation height and proximity to the access boxes, as we don't have that information. As for site conditions, if it has a full sun exposure (once trees are leafed-out) and drains well, either switchgrass or bluestem should be fine.
As for the streetside strip, that's a very limited space (even considering roots traveling under the sidewalk to the other side) for tree roots, and the reflected heat from the pavement on either side will add to a tree's stress. I have seen Fringetree growing between boulders in local parks, so it might survive decently well, but it's hard to predict how successful it would be long-term. Any new tree should be monitored for watering needs during its first few years in the ground.
One native species fairly tolerant of stressful sites is Blackhaw Viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium), and while it can mature into a small tree, it's usually sold as a shrub, so would take time to develop into a more tree-like shape. Fringetree would mature much larger than the Viburnum in the long run, but when roots have more limited growing space, that can stunt top growth and keep plants smaller than their full potential.
Other tree contenders among native plants for a drier, sunny site might be:
Miri
As for the streetside strip, that's a very limited space (even considering roots traveling under the sidewalk to the other side) for tree roots, and the reflected heat from the pavement on either side will add to a tree's stress. I have seen Fringetree growing between boulders in local parks, so it might survive decently well, but it's hard to predict how successful it would be long-term. Any new tree should be monitored for watering needs during its first few years in the ground.
One native species fairly tolerant of stressful sites is Blackhaw Viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium), and while it can mature into a small tree, it's usually sold as a shrub, so would take time to develop into a more tree-like shape. Fringetree would mature much larger than the Viburnum in the long run, but when roots have more limited growing space, that can stunt top growth and keep plants smaller than their full potential.
Other tree contenders among native plants for a drier, sunny site might be:
- Dwarf Hackberry (Celtis tenuifolia) -- can be hard to source
- American Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) -- there are cultivars which mature smaller than the wild type, though if you don't want fruit (if it could be messy), look for a male tree
- Black Cherry (Prunus serotina)
- Sassafras (Sassafras albidum)
- Smooth Sumac (Rhus glabra) or Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina), either of which might sucker a bit (develop multiple stems from the root system); Staghorn Sumac could be more of a tall tree-like shrub rather than a tree
- Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius)
- New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus)
- Bayberry (Myrica / Morella pensylvanica or M. cerifera) -- this could be grown as a small tree, though is sold as a shrub
Miri
