Ten Tips for Planting and Growing Native Plants

Native plants include any species of plant that is indigenous to the area such as ferns, grasses, flowering perennials, annuals (live one year), biennials (live two years), trees, shrubs, and vines. When planting native plants in the right environment they require minimal care to grow. The best part of native gardening is that most native plants create a habitat for insects that will eat troublesome pests.

1. The most important rule to follow when planting native plants is to select the proper location for growing. Remember the four S's of native gardening: soil, sun, size, and seasons.

2. Take notice of other native gardening in your community to see which native plants do well in your area.

3. Most retail nurseries and mail-order catalogs offer native plants and seeds. Your State's conservation office will have a list of native plants and seed sources. You should never remove native plants from the wild because they do not survive transplanting and it upsets the ecosystem.

4. Prepare the soil before planting native plants by mixing compost, leaf mulch and grass clipping into the soil. This will fertilize the soil and provide nutrients that are slowly released and will keep your plants healthy. Chemical fertilizers are not recommended for native gardening because an abundance of nutrients are released too quickly, which weeds love.

5. Native plants attract beneficial insects that can act as sufficient pest control. Most universities have agricultural resources that offer helpful information on fighting difficult pests naturally.

6. Cover the soil with organic mulch or other soil covering after planting native plants to prevent weeds that will take nutrients from your plants.

7. Remove insect infested or diseased plants so it does not spread to your native plants.

8. When gardening native flowers remove invasive plants that could suck the life from your aesthetic plants.

9.Landscaping with large amounts of the same native plants can make growing difficult because weeds will be hard to control. Combat this problem by adding native grass and you will have a strikingly beautiful garden.

10.Cut back tall native plants to keep them condensed, promote new growth and blooms.

For even more helpful tips on growing native plants, planting native plants, and native gardening search "university (your state) agriculture" and you will easily find information relative to your USDA gardening zone. For example, The University of California has a fabulous agriculture website with information to help manage pests.

See also

The Three T's of Gardening - Zone 6

The Three T's of Gardening - Zone 7

The Three T's of Gardening - Zone 10

Sources

Landscaping with Native Plants in Pennsylvania, DCNR

Taking care of natives in your home garden, GrowNative!