Native Garden Guide
Getting started with healthy gardening
Where to begin? Taking your first steps toward creating a healthy yard - wildlife friendly, pesticide free, native plantings - may seem overwhelming or at least raises many questions. But there are steps you can take right away that take little effort, and may even be easier than traditional lawn maintenance.
This page is a starting point that gives you direction and points you to many of the excellent resources available online. To learn more about what we mean by a "healthy yard" visit healthyyards.org
Quick and Easy
Leave the Leaves
Leaves do no harm and provide many benefits for your garden and the ecosystem.
- Leaves hold moisture in the soil and provide habitat for insects such as lightning bugs.
- Free mulch!
- Rake leaves into your flower beds, up to a few inches depth.
- Worried about your grass? Mow over leaves (don’t collect the clippings). This will mulch leaves into the lawn, nourishing the grass and helping to reduce weeds.
- Read more in this Xerces Society article
Leave the plant stems in the fall
- Stems and seedpods make great homes for insects in the winter
- Many bees live in hollow stems through winter and spring
- Dried stems and seed heads make interesting shapes and textures in the winter months
- Read more about how to Leave the Stems
Mow the lawn less
- Be a "Lazy Mower" - Mow less often and at a higher setting to let violets and white clover bloom and feed the bees
- Raise your lawn awareness. Read this article about The American Obsession with Lawns
Don’t use pesticides or herbicides
- Insect populations naturally rise and fall
- In most cases doing nothing is the healthiest action you can take when faced with insects in the garden
- Pesticides kill wide ranges of insects, not just mosquitoes
- Read about 8 Pesticide Myths for more detail
Learn About Native Plants
Native plants are essential to a healthy environment
- There are many benefits to native plants
- Native plants are better suited to our environment, many are drought tolerant, and they feed insects and wildlife.
- Note: most nurseries stock primarily European and Asian plants - be sure to specifically ask for native plants when shopping
- Read the labels and Google the plant name for details
- The entomologist Douglas Tallamy has identified "keystone plants" that support significant populations of insects, which in turn support the native bird populations
Read a good book
Get inspired and learn more about gardening with native plants with these books
Get the Seek app
Get to know your plants. Download the Seek app (Android and iOS) to help you identify the plants in your yard. When you're out taking a walk in a field or woods, use Seek to learn what's growing.
Google names of plants to learn more about their native range. You'll be surprised at how many plants you grew up with are actually native to Europe and Asia.
Observe your garden conditions
Sun vs. Shade
Match the plant to the place it will grow. A plant may look beautiful in the nursery but may not be suited for the conditions in your garden bed. Some plants thrive in bright sun, some prefer shade.
How much sun does your location get?
- Full sun: 6 or more hours of direct sun
- Part sun: 4 - 6 hours of sun
- Part shade: 2 - 4 hours of sun
- Full shade: less than 2 hours of sun, or indirect sun
Wet vs. Dry
There are plants for all conditions, even desert. More water is not good for all plants. Many thrive in dry soil.
- Dry - soil dries out quickly, may be on a hillside where water runs off quickly, or shallow soil over rock
- Moist - soil stays damp but does not puddle, often wooded areas are moist
- Wet - water may puddle and linger after rain, does not run off quickly
Soil type - Sand/Silt/Clay
Soil is composed of some mixture of sand, silt, clay, and organic matter often called "loam". Different proportions of these materials will hold water and nutrients differently, which impacts the plants that will grow well in that soil.
- Sand - coarser, grittier particles
- Silt - finer particles
- Clay - very fine particles
- It's easier to choose plants that prefer your soil type than to try to change your soil
- You probably don't need to amend your soil
Try the Mason jar soil test to see what kind of soil you have
Plant some Natives
Start small
- It may seem like a daunting task to start a pollinator garden, but you can begin in one square foot of space. A single wildflower can brighten up a bare spot and get you going. Pick a spot in your yard where you can focus your attention and begin.
- Remember, native plants are better suited to our environment and will require less watering and maintenance.
- Perennials come back each year - plant once and enjoy years of beauty in your garden.
Choose Some Plants
Once you know the conditions of your garden (sun/shade, wet/dry) check out the online nurseries that sell native plants. They have a wide selection and their searchable catalogs help you narrow down plants that are a good fit.
- Prairie Moon Nursery
- Narrow down the plants you're looking for, such as plants for a shady, moist location
-
Prairie Nursery
- Find plants for any conditions - here are plants for a sunny, dry location
-
Amanda's Native Garden
Get Ideas from Garden Plans & Plant Lists
Native Garden Templates
- Howard County Conservancy - Pollinator Garden Templates
- Prairie Nursery - Pre-planned gardens
- Native Landscape Plans - From Missouri, but most of these plants will thrive in the northeast
Native Plant suggestions
- Amanda's Native - Gardening Guide
- Landscaping-with-New-York-State-Native-Plants - by the Town of Brighton
- Plant lists for different conditions - by the Wild Seed Project
- Find a good ground cover - reduce weeds, preserve soil moisture
- Getting Started with Native Plants - good advice from Audubon
What plants grow in the NY area?
Several websites catalog plants by region - take a look and see what's a good fit. The searches below allow you to narrow down plants by state and/or plant characteristics.
Plan Ahead
Fall is a good time to order seedlings and plugs or bare roots from online nurseries. Order in later summer and plant in September or October
- For lower costs buy small seedlings aka "plugs" or 3" pots instead of full grown plants
- Seedlings will spread their roots during the winter and be ready to grow foliage in the spring.
- Tips for Planting Perennials in Fall
Watch for Invasives
Gardeners often ask "Is this plant native or invasive". It takes time to recognize which plants are well-behaved and which will take over. Here are some lists that can help you identify the mystery plants that show up un-invited.
Keep in mind that some "lawn weeds", such as violets, are native wildflowers that you may want to keep. Also common names can be confusing: "Common Groundsel" is not the same as "Golden Groundsel". Look up the latin names to be sure.
Design a garden
Think in 3 layers
Gardens are communities of plants that each provide ecological value and aesthetic interest. Think of your garden as three layers of plants, with each layer playing a distinct role in the garden:
- Ground cover aka "green mulch" - low plants that form a layer over the soil which helps retain moisture and reduce weeds
- Structural layer - taller or more prominent plants, such as shrubs, that give a lasting shape to the garden
- Seasonal layer - mid-height plants that provide color throughout the seasons, such as flowering perennials
Planting in Layers is a great example of how this layered approach was applied at the Red Oak Rain Garden.
About "Green Mulch"
It's common to see yards where shrubs or trees are ringed with an area of wood chip mulch. Mulch can provide value, such as retaining moisture in the soil and preventing growth of weeds, but a better and more lasting approach is to develop a ground-cover layer - low plants that shade the soil, reduce weed growth, retain moisture and improve the soil quality. Gardeners call this groundcover layer "green mulch".
Lose the lawn
Convert some lawn to a wildflower meadow. Less mowing, more butterflies!
- For small areas, dig up the top 4 inches of turf
- For medium areas, smother the grass by covering with cardboard and mulch
- For large areas rent a sod cutter to quickly remove the grass
- Start in the fall - you'll be ready to plant in the spring
- Read this article for more about Lawn removal techniques
Stay in Touch
Facebook groups
Organizations online
- healthyyards.org - The parent organization based in Bedford
- healthyyardsnr.org - The New Rochelle chapter of Healthy Yards
- Pollinator Pathways
- Xerces Society
About the Native Garden Guide
I created this guide to answer some of the questions I commonly hear from people that want to get started planting a native wildflower garden. I'm a homeowner in Westchester County, NY and have learned how to develop my garden by reading, searching online and asking other gardeners a lot of questions. Hopefully this guide can provide a quick-start for the gardeners that are just getting started.
Mark Napier
napiernapier@gmail.com
Sun vs. Shade
Match the plant to the place it will grow. A plant may look beautiful in the nursery but may not be suited for the conditions in your garden bed. Some plants thrive in bright sun, some prefer shade.
How much sun does your location get?
- Full sun: 6 or more hours of direct sun
- Part sun: 4 - 6 hours of sun
- Part shade: 2 - 4 hours of sun
- Full shade: less than 2 hours of sun, or indirect sun
Wet vs. Dry
There are plants for all conditions, even desert. More water is not good for all plants. Many thrive in dry soil.
- Dry - soil dries out quickly, may be on a hillside where water runs off quickly, or shallow soil over rock
- Moist - soil stays damp but does not puddle, often wooded areas are moist
- Wet - water may puddle and linger after rain, does not run off quickly
Soil type - Sand/Silt/Clay
Soil is composed of some mixture of sand, silt, clay, and organic matter often called "loam". Different proportions of these materials will hold water and nutrients differently, which impacts the plants that will grow well in that soil.
- Sand - coarser, grittier particles
- Silt - finer particles
- Clay - very fine particles
- It's easier to choose plants that prefer your soil type than to try to change your soil
- You probably don't need to amend your soil
Try the Mason jar soil test to see what kind of soil you have
Start small
- It may seem like a daunting task to start a pollinator garden, but you can begin in one square foot of space. A single wildflower can brighten up a bare spot and get you going. Pick a spot in your yard where you can focus your attention and begin.
- Remember, native plants are better suited to our environment and will require less watering and maintenance.
- Perennials come back each year - plant once and enjoy years of beauty in your garden.
Choose Some Plants
Once you know the conditions of your garden (sun/shade, wet/dry) check out the online nurseries that sell native plants. They have a wide selection and their searchable catalogs help you narrow down plants that are a good fit.
- Prairie Moon Nursery
- Narrow down the plants you're looking for, such as plants for a shady, moist location
-
Prairie Nursery
- Find plants for any conditions - here are plants for a sunny, dry location
- Amanda's Native Garden
Get Ideas from Garden Plans & Plant Lists
Native Garden Templates
- Howard County Conservancy - Pollinator Garden Templates
- Prairie Nursery - Pre-planned gardens
- Native Landscape Plans - From Missouri, but most of these plants will thrive in the northeast
Native Plant suggestions
- Amanda's Native - Gardening Guide
- Landscaping-with-New-York-State-Native-Plants - by the Town of Brighton
- Plant lists for different conditions - by the Wild Seed Project
- Find a good ground cover - reduce weeds, preserve soil moisture
- Getting Started with Native Plants - good advice from Audubon
What plants grow in the NY area?
Several websites catalog plants by region - take a look and see what's a good fit. The searches below allow you to narrow down plants by state and/or plant characteristics.
Plan Ahead
Fall is a good time to order seedlings and plugs or bare roots from online nurseries. Order in later summer and plant in September or October
- For lower costs buy small seedlings aka "plugs" or 3" pots instead of full grown plants
- Seedlings will spread their roots during the winter and be ready to grow foliage in the spring.
- Tips for Planting Perennials in Fall
Watch for Invasives
Gardeners often ask "Is this plant native or invasive". It takes time to recognize which plants are well-behaved and which will take over. Here are some lists that can help you identify the mystery plants that show up un-invited.
Keep in mind that some "lawn weeds", such as violets, are native wildflowers that you may want to keep. Also common names can be confusing: "Common Groundsel" is not the same as "Golden Groundsel". Look up the latin names to be sure.
Design a garden
Think in 3 layers
Gardens are communities of plants that each provide ecological value and aesthetic interest. Think of your garden as three layers of plants, with each layer playing a distinct role in the garden:
- Ground cover aka "green mulch" - low plants that form a layer over the soil which helps retain moisture and reduce weeds
- Structural layer - taller or more prominent plants, such as shrubs, that give a lasting shape to the garden
- Seasonal layer - mid-height plants that provide color throughout the seasons, such as flowering perennials
Planting in Layers is a great example of how this layered approach was applied at the Red Oak Rain Garden.
About "Green Mulch"
It's common to see yards where shrubs or trees are ringed with an area of wood chip mulch. Mulch can provide value, such as retaining moisture in the soil and preventing growth of weeds, but a better and more lasting approach is to develop a ground-cover layer - low plants that shade the soil, reduce weed growth, retain moisture and improve the soil quality. Gardeners call this groundcover layer "green mulch".
Lose the lawn
Convert some lawn to a wildflower meadow. Less mowing, more butterflies!
- For small areas, dig up the top 4 inches of turf
- For medium areas, smother the grass by covering with cardboard and mulch
- For large areas rent a sod cutter to quickly remove the grass
- Start in the fall - you'll be ready to plant in the spring
- Read this article for more about Lawn removal techniques
Stay in Touch
Facebook groups
Organizations online
- healthyyards.org - The parent organization based in Bedford
- healthyyardsnr.org - The New Rochelle chapter of Healthy Yards
- Pollinator Pathways
- Xerces Society
About the Native Garden Guide
I created this guide to answer some of the questions I commonly hear from people that want to get started planting a native wildflower garden. I'm a homeowner in Westchester County, NY and have learned how to develop my garden by reading, searching online and asking other gardeners a lot of questions. Hopefully this guide can provide a quick-start for the gardeners that are just getting started.
Mark Napier
napiernapier@gmail.com
Think in 3 layers
Gardens are communities of plants that each provide ecological value and aesthetic interest. Think of your garden as three layers of plants, with each layer playing a distinct role in the garden:
- Ground cover aka "green mulch" - low plants that form a layer over the soil which helps retain moisture and reduce weeds
- Structural layer - taller or more prominent plants, such as shrubs, that give a lasting shape to the garden
- Seasonal layer - mid-height plants that provide color throughout the seasons, such as flowering perennials
Planting in Layers is a great example of how this layered approach was applied at the Red Oak Rain Garden.
About "Green Mulch"
It's common to see yards where shrubs or trees are ringed with an area of wood chip mulch. Mulch can provide value, such as retaining moisture in the soil and preventing growth of weeds, but a better and more lasting approach is to develop a ground-cover layer - low plants that shade the soil, reduce weed growth, retain moisture and improve the soil quality. Gardeners call this groundcover layer "green mulch".
Lose the lawn
Convert some lawn to a wildflower meadow. Less mowing, more butterflies!
- For small areas, dig up the top 4 inches of turf
- For medium areas, smother the grass by covering with cardboard and mulch
- For large areas rent a sod cutter to quickly remove the grass
- Start in the fall - you'll be ready to plant in the spring
- Read this article for more about Lawn removal techniques
Facebook groups
Organizations online
- healthyyards.org - The parent organization based in Bedford
- healthyyardsnr.org - The New Rochelle chapter of Healthy Yards
- Pollinator Pathways
- Xerces Society
About the Native Garden Guide
I created this guide to answer some of the questions I commonly hear from people that want to get started planting a native wildflower garden. I'm a homeowner in Westchester County, NY and have learned how to develop my garden by reading, searching online and asking other gardeners a lot of questions. Hopefully this guide can provide a quick-start for the gardeners that are just getting started.
Mark Napier
napiernapier@gmail.com