Creating a successful native plant garden requires thoughtful installation and ongoing care, but the reward is a beautiful, self-sustaining landscape that supports wildlife and requires far less maintenance than a traditional garden.
Planting Your Garden
When to Plant
Spring and fall are the best times to plant native perennials. Cooler temperatures and reliable rainfall help plants establish strong root systems before facing summer heat or winter cold.
Spacing
Plant perennials closer together than traditional garden spacing—typically 12–18 inches apart depending on mature size. Dense planting allows plants to grow into one another, creating a continuous canopy that shades the soil, retains moisture, and blocks weed seeds from germinating.
How to Plant
- Dig a hole as deep as the container but about twice as wide
- Gently remove the plant from its pot, keeping soil around the roots intact
- Place the plant in the hole and gently firm the soil around the roots
- Water immediately with at least 1 inch of water
- Apply 2–3 inches of mulch between (but not touching) the plants
Watering During Establishment
Water newly planted perennials every other day for the first week, once a week for the first month, and monthly for the first year (rain counts). Give each plant at least 1 inch of water per watering session. After the first year, established plants should only need watering during extended droughts.
Sustainable Maintenance Practices
Think Long-Term
Remember the gardener’s saying: “First year they sleep, second year they creep, third year they leap.” Native plants invest energy in root growth before putting on much top growth. Be patient—your garden will reward you.
Minimal Soil Disturbance
Avoid tilling or excessive digging once your garden is established. This preserves soil structure, protects beneficial organisms, and avoids bringing up dormant weed seeds.
Leave the Leaves
In planting beds (not lawn), leave fallen leaves in place. They provide natural mulch, return nutrients to the soil, and create essential habitat for overwintering insects and ground-nesting bees.
Provide Winter Habitat
Leave plant stems standing through winter rather than cutting everything back in fall. Dead stems provide overwintering sites for beneficial insects, seeds for birds, and structure and interest in the winter landscape. Cut back in early spring before new growth emerges.
Seasonal Maintenance Calendar
Late March to Early April: Spring Cutback
Once temperatures consistently reach the 50s, cut back all remaining perennial stems and grasses to 8–10 inches. This can be done with hedge trimmers or a string trimmer. Leave the chopped material on the ground as natural mulch, but remove any heavy accumulations of matted leaves that might smother emerging plants.
April to June: Planting and Weeding
Monitor for weeds and remove them promptly, especially perennial weeds with spreading roots. This is also the ideal time to plant new perennials or transplant existing ones.
Late May to Early June: Optional “Haircut”
Late-blooming perennials and tall grasses can be cut back by one-third to one-half to reduce their final height and prevent flopping. This technique is optional but can help manage size in smaller spaces.
Summer: Light Management
Monitor for aggressive weeds, trim plants encroaching on paths, and water new plantings during drought. Established plants should need little to no intervention.
Fall: Planting and Cleanup
Plant new perennials, remove leaves from paths (but leave them in beds), and resist the urge to cut back stems—leave them standing for winter wildlife habitat and visual interest.
Managing Challenges
Weeding
Most weeding happens in years one and two. Once your plants mature and fill in, they’ll act as living mulch and drastically reduce weeds. Focus on removing perennial weeds completely (roots and all) and prevent annual weeds from setting seed.
Editing
As your garden matures, some plants may spread while others decline. This is natural. Feel free to remove overly aggressive plants or add more of your favorites to maintain diversity and visual appeal. This ongoing editing keeps the garden intentional and balanced.
Path Maintenance
Plants along edges may occasionally flop onto paths, especially after rain. Trim them back as needed to maintain a tidy, intentional appearance.
The Reward
A naturalistic native plant garden is fundamentally different from a conventional landscape. It’s dynamic, responding to its environment and shifting over time. Instead of forcing it into a rigid form, work with the plants—observe what they’re doing, enhance what’s working, and gently guide what’s not. This approach makes gardening more engaging, rewarding, and ultimately far easier than maintaining a traditional lawn and garden.