Gardening with Native Plants

Intro to Native Plant Gardening

Installing plants has several advantages over seeding. Many plants will flower the year they are transplanted, while seeds typically require three years or more to bloom. Plants can be placed according to a design to create a desired effect. Weeds can be readily distinguished from new plants, whereas slow-growing native seedlings can be difficult to differentiate from weeds.

Native perennial gardens are a great choice for residential landscapes. Transplants are generally preferable to seeds for smaller gardens. With a little care, transplants can bloom the first year. When seeded, wildflowers and grasses typically do not bloom until the third year or later.

The area to be planted must be completely free of weeds and grasses. Heavy clay soils should be cultivated or dug to a depth of one foot to break up layers of compacted soil. Organic matter such as compost, peat moss, well-rotted manure and shredded leaves can be tilled into poor clay soils to improve aeration and water infiltration. Do not use sawdust, bark chips, or other organic materials derived from wood, as these will rob the soil of nitrogen and retard the growth of your plants. Dry sandy soil can also be improved by the addition of organic matter to increase nutrient and water-holding capacity.

Plants do best when installed in spring or early fall. Early spring flowers often do better when transplanted in autumn. Space your transplants according to the guidelines in our Wildflower & Grass Selection Guide on our website www.prairienursery.com. Mark each transplant to identify it during weeding. Mulch with 2-3 inches of weed-free straw (clean winter wheat, oat, or marsh hay) to reduce weeds and retain soil moisture. Leave openings in the mulch for the emerging leaves.

Fall installed plants should be covered with 4-6 inches of clean straw after they go dormant in late autumn to protect them from winter loss. Remove excess mulch in early spring to encourage new growth, leaving 1-2 inches of mulch in place to reduce weed growth.

Weeding. Required in the first few seasons, when plants are establishing, especially when gardening organically. Once established, little further weeding should be necessary.

If you wish to use herbicides for weed control, pre-emergents such as “Preen” can be applied AFTER installing transplants and before mulching.