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Native Plant Advocate

Native plant gardening for rewilding, protecting ecosystems, wildlife, pollinators

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Plant Selection

Organic Mulch vs. Living/Green Mulch: What Are They and What’s the Difference?

June 5, 2024 by Andrew Walsh Leave a Comment

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 […]

Filed Under: Gardening Theory, Gardening Tips, Plant Selection Tagged With: Fragaria (strawberry), Living Mulch, Mulch, Sedum, Viola (violets), Weeding

Planning and Designing a Narrow Space Native Plant Garden

May 1, 2024 by Andrew Walsh Leave a Comment

This article will outline the process I took to establish a native garden in a narrow bed behind my garage, including clearing and preparing the site (which was covered in invasive plants), choosing a general design and selecting plants, and finally doing the planting and maintaining the garden through the first year and now its […]

Filed Under: Garden Displays, Plant Selection Tagged With: Beardtongue (Penstemon), Goldenrod (Solidago), Invasive Species, Purple Lovegrass (eragrostis spectabilis), Traditional/Ornamental Gardens

Best Pollinator-Friendly Native Plants for Shade Gardens

July 9, 2023 by Andrew Walsh 2 Comments

When we talk about planting native plants to support pollinators and ecosystem health, the dominant image that comes to most of our minds is that of a sunny garden reminiscent of a prairie or meadow. But it’s worth remembering that a large percentage of areas of the United States were occupied primary by forest, especially […]

Filed Under: Plant Selection Tagged With: Pollinators, Shade Gardens

Native Shrubs for a Privacy Screen or Hedge

June 14, 2023 by Andrew Walsh Leave a Comment

Homeowners often wish for a privacy hedge or screen for a variety of reasons: protecting an outdoor space from the gaze of neighbors, defining property boundaries, serving as a windbreak, hiding an unwanted view, or even deterring trespassers. Privacy hedges not only fulfill practical needs but also add aesthetic appeal to the landscape and provide […]

Filed Under: Plant Selection Tagged With: Invasive Species, Juniperus, Native Shrubs, Prunus

Have Boxwood Blight? Try a Native Shrub as Replacement

May 11, 2023 by Andrew Walsh Leave a Comment

Do you have one or more boxwood shrubs that are looking rough? Unfortunately, it’s not likely to be something recoverable, like minor freeze damage or run of the mill pest damage, but rather a devastating disease called boxwood blight. The good news is that there are some great native replacements for boxwoods that can bring […]

Filed Under: Plant Selection Tagged With: Evergreens, Native Garden Design, Native Shrubs

Thinking Big: Why You Need Trees and Shrubs in Your Native Plant Garden

January 20, 2023 by Andrew Walsh Leave a Comment

Many gardeners typically associate the idea of “native plants” with colorful and vibrant wildflowers. But when you’re looking to make a big impact, it’s native trees that give you the most bang for your buck, in multiple ways. Trees perform hugely beneficial functions for our own properties by providing shade. This helps with cooling in […]

Filed Under: Plant Selection Tagged With: Native Shrubs, Native Trees, Oaks (Quercus)

What Are the Best Native Plants to Grow in My Yard? Site Conditions, Keystones and More

December 10, 2022 by Andrew Walsh Leave a Comment

For all gardeners looking to enjoy the benefits of planting native, one of the most common questions when getting started is what exactly to plant. We’ll tackle that question in this article, which ends up being a lot bigger than you might have assumed. There are actually quite a few different elements to consider when […]

Filed Under: Plant Selection Tagged With: Soil, Sunlight

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About This Website

I'm Andrew, a home gardener who got fully obsessed with native plants during the pandemic and I'm now sharing my progress and what I've learned. My interests include utilizing natives in formal as well as naturalized settings, and using native trees and shrubs to support wildlife.

Recent Posts

  • March Garden Roundup: Plant Emergence and Growth (And Evergreen Natives?)
  • Photographing the Native Garden in Winter: Alternative Concepts of “Beauty” and Ecosystem Benefits
  • Spring vs. Fall: When Is the Best Time to Plant Native Perennials?
  • How Late Can I Plant or Transplant Native Plants in the Fall?
  • Why You Should Plant Native Grasses in Your Garden

Recent Comments

  • Neetsie on Best Pollinator-Friendly Native Plants for Shade Gardens
  • Neetsie on Best Pollinator-Friendly Native Plants for Shade Gardens
  • Beth Balentine on Will My Coneflower (Echinacea) Come Back if Eaten by Rabbits?
  • Andrew Walsh on Sedum Ternatum (Woodland Stonecrop), a Great Native, Evergreen Groundcover
  • Andrew Walsh on Aster Yellows in Native Plants: How to Diagnose and What to Do

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