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 […]
Plant Selection
Planning and Designing a Narrow Space Native Plant Garden
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 […]
Best Pollinator-Friendly Native Plants for Shade Gardens
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 […]
Native Shrubs for a Privacy Screen or Hedge
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 […]
Have Boxwood Blight? Try a Native Shrub as Replacement
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 […]
Thinking Big: Why You Need Trees and Shrubs in Your Native Plant Garden
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 […]
What Are the Best Native Plants to Grow in My Yard? Site Conditions, Keystones and More
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 […]