Going Native

Preparing Your Native Garden Space

Step 1

Assess your growing space. Observe the amount of sunlight it receives during the day, and determine the moisture level of your soil. This information is crucial to assure the plants you select will grow and thrive in your landscape. DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP! As a general rule of thumb:

• Full shade is defined as four or fewer hours of sunlight a day.

• Partial sun is four to six hours of sunlight.

• Full sun means your growing space gets six or more hours of sunlight a day

Step 2

Preparing your site may involve removing invasive plant species. An invasive plant is one that has been introduced (i.e., non-native), quickly propagates, and eventually squeezes out native species. Buckthorn, garlic mustard, and phragmites are examples of invasive species.

Step 3

If your garden space is generally weedy or if you are creating a new garden bed by removing turf grass, my preferred method for suppressing weeds or killing grass is sheet mulching, an easy process that doesn’t require the use of chemicals. Although a very effective method, sheet mulching does require patience, as your space may not be ready to plant until the following growing season. Follow these steps to sheet mulch an area:

• Mow the grass or weeds at the lowest mower setting.

• Cover the area with cardboard sheets or thick layers of newspaper.

• Water the cardboard or newspaper thoroughly.

• Spread one to three inches of wood chips or compost over the cardboard.

• Let Mother Nature do her thing!

How quickly your vegetation composts will depend upon the time of year and the weather. Typically, when I sheet mulch a bed in late August, the bed will be ready for planting the following spring.

Ready to Plant

Step 4

Using the assessment of your growing space, make a list of native plants you would like to include in your garden. Consider plant characteristics such as color, height, width, bloom times, vigor, texture, pollinator benefits, and four-season interest when making your list. (Click on the Resource tab for links to plant information.) When compiling your list, also evaluate the growth habit. If your garden is small or you want a neat design, avoid planting natives that have vigorous growth habits. Some native species grow quickly and will crowd out other species, but you can easily manage your garden space by not including these more aggressive species.

Step 5

Now that you have your list of desired plants in hand, the next step is to obtain your native seeds or plants from a reliable source (that would be me). Your options include seeding your prepared space with true native seeds or planting plug-sized (young) native plants. See the Prairie Plant Report tab for free seed availability and future plant sales.

Step 6

Seeding is a good option if you have a large space and you’re looking for a “wild” look. However, seeding will take longer to achieve your desired result. If you’re seeding your space, determine if the seeds require a period of cold, moist stratification or some other specific environment in order to germinate. Many native seed species are best scattered outside on your soil in late fall and early winter. You can also start native seeds by winter sowing in containers (such as plastic milk jugs).

Step 7

Starting with plugs and first-year plants will speed up the process of establishing your garden, since plant growth is active and the plants are already beginning to develop a root system. Plugs and first-year plants can be planted at any time before the first frost date. Fall planting usually results in healthier, better-established plants the following season.

Maintaining Your Native Garden

Step 8

Your first year planting requires watering several times a week during the growing season. The frequency of watering in year two will depend on your weather conditions. Once your native garden is established, regular watering is not required!

Step 9

Continue to pull weeds to give your plants the best chance to survive and thrive. In future years, if some of your natives have reseeded in areas where you don’t want them, just pull out the young plants.

Step 10

There’s no need to trim your native plants as you enter the fall and winter. Rather, leave your plants standing throughout the winter for seasonal interest, where they’ll also provide shelter for over-wintering insects, and a food source for birds and other wildlife. The seed heads will also self-sow if left alone.

Enjoying Your New Native Garden

Now that you’ve completed your preparation, planning, and planting, it’s time to enjoy the fruits of your labors. Remember, your first-year native garden will be concentrating all of its efforts on developing a deep root system, so you may not see a lot of blooms or pollinator activity at first. Be patient and know that although you may not see it, your landscape is already beginning to establish itself, while developing a natural and welcoming habitat. By year two, your garden will start showing its colors, and pollinators will be seeking out your plants. By year three your native garden will be in its full glory and filled with life!