Spring is an exciting time for any gardener, and as a native plant enthusiast I’m always quick to take a walk around my yard and check to see what’s emerged, what’s growing, and what is gearing up to bloom soon. The amount of early spring growth can depend greatly on the age of the plant. […]
Gardening Theory
Photographing the Native Garden in Winter: Alternative Concepts of “Beauty” and Ecosystem Benefits
I enjoy taking photos of my garden at all times of the year, but the winter is an especially interesting season. Conventional thinking is that this is when everything is “dead” and resting while it waits for spring, but when we think of the ecosystem benefits of native plant gardening, the action doesn’t stop with […]
Spring vs. Fall: When Is the Best Time to Plant Native Perennials?
So you’ve gotten inspired by all the benefits of planting native and have decided to give it a try. My initial advice is to consider not only the showy wildflowers that we most often gravitate to, but also to consider native trees and shrubs and native grasses, both of which pack a powerful punch in […]
Why You Should Plant Native Grasses in Your Garden
With native plants, the most popular species tend to be showy wildflowers with colorful blooms. And among those of us passionate about conservation and rewilding, tree planting is typically the top activity. But there’s one aspect of native plants that can unite these goals and any other gardener concerned with ecosystem health: planting native grasses. […]
Should You Raise Caterpillars Indoors? A Guide for Native Plant Enthusiasts
In our last article, we talked about enjoying one of the most important relationships you can find in your garden: that between native plants and caterpillars. It’s so vital because caterpillars require specific host plants to complete their life cycles, and they also serve as crucial cogs in the food chain. The last article was […]
Should You Start Native Plants by Seed or Buy Seedlings?
There’s one truth about native plant gardening that sometimes makes it seem daunting to novices: it can take quite a while to enjoy the fruits (or flowers) of your labor. But there are plenty of things you can do to make the process a smooth one, which this article will go over in detail. First, […]
Organic Mulch vs. Living/Green Mulch: What Are They and What’s the Difference?
Mulching a garden can be great for multiple reasons: suppressing weeds, retaining moisture, and even improving the soil over time. With native plants, there are some different considerations, because the plants are naturally adapted to the native soil and therefore able to thrive without anything special added to it. In practice, however, this doesn’t always […]
What’s a Host Plant? Why It’s Important to Plant for Caterpillars, Not Just Butterflies
All plants have some baseline ecological benefits. They prevent erosion, keep moisture and nutrients in the soil, and sequester carbon. They also provide shade, shelter, and cover for species ranging from tiny insects to large mammals. But when we talk about the most beneficial plants and trees to plant (or conserve) in a given area, […]
Should You Deadhead Your Native Plants?
Deadheading, or removing spent flower heads from your plants, is a standard practice in the traditional garden, but how does it translate to native plant gardening where most gardeners are trying to maximize their ecological benefit? To answer this question, let’s start by running through the “traditional” reasons for deadheading flowers in a garden. What […]
Why You Should Grow a Shade Garden
The native plant movement has been growing in recent years, and for many this means sun-loving plants and showy wildflowers. It’s increasingly common to find gardens showcasing plants like purple coneflower, black eyed susan and milkweed, while concepts like the “pocket prairie” and “mini meadow” have become more mainstream. Native shade plants, on the other […]