Printing note: This design was created to be 8.5″ x 14″ and the design pdf will print best on legal size paper.

Existing Site Conditions

Existing site conditions are important when selecting the right plant for the right place. Observe the site during different times of the day and seasons. Plan for your surroundings; short species should be used along sidewalks and driveways so that plants are not obstructing walkways. Plants can also create a privacy screen to block undesirable views or to frame sight lines.

Plant Communities

After you know how the sun, air, and water moves through the site, you can begin to look at which ecosystem palate fits your needs. For example, the area between the front entrance and the driveway is south facing and receives full sun for the majority of the day. This means dry prairie species will thrive here. In the northwest corner of the property, water is a concern as it tends to pond there after heavy rain events. Species in this area need to be adapted to having their feet wet, so wetland or wet prairie species will be used.

Phasing

Phasing is an excellent strategy to implement your design on your schedule. There are many benefits to slowly transition your landscape from its existing state to a healthy thriving habitat. Planting shrubs and additional trees first will give them time to become established as it takes them longer to reach maturity. Perennials and grasses can give you a more instant result.

Phase 1: Start with replacing or adding to the existing beds that are around the foundation of the home. This increases the curb appeal of the home while giving you a manageable project size to complete in a season. The shady area under the front tree now has plants instead of bare soil where the turf grass previously wouldn’t grow.

Phase 2: Expand to the perimeter of the site by increasing privacy with a diverse hedge. This not only blocks sightlines but also feeds the birds with berries and provides shelter from inclement weather. Adding native plants to the wet or soggy areas of the property will reduce your need to mow waterlogged turf. The impressive root structures of our native plants quickly absorb excess moisture and their root channels allow high infiltration rates of stormwater runoff. The pond provides water for animals and is a focal point of the backyard.

Phase 3: Complete the overall design with woodland plantings along the side of the home with a stepping stone walkway to the woodland plantings under the shade tree in the backyard. Now the property has been transformed from a sterile turf desert into a thriving habitat providing food, shelter, and water. Native plants can thrive in various soil conditions. There is no need to add fertilizers or soil amendments to have thriving plants. Right plant, right place is the best way to have a healthy landscape. Hardwood mulch is recommended for the first year to help with weed control. After the second year, the plants provide enough debris to create a natural mulch that will control leaves and provide areas of refuge for overwintering insects. A ‘messy’ yard is a healthy yard for insects!

Plant List

This list is inclusive of only the native plants in this specific native garden design. The list is meant to provide a basic preview of the beautiful and diverse plants featured in this design and serve as a reference tool when selecting plants at a nursery. (The list can be printed in two columns using landscape mode in your print settings.) More thorough information about each of these native plants can be found online at the Audubon, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and United States Department of Agriculture websites, all of which provide a wealth of native plant information including comprehensive North American native plant databases.

Designer Statement

When I first visit a new project, I think about what type of habitat or ecosystem was historically present in this area. Was it a tall grass prairie, or an oak forest? We humans have modified the landscape so much that at times it is impossible to accurately identify its historical ecosystem. In lieu of pursuing true habitat restoration, I focus on the microclimates unique to each site and select native plants that are appropriate for the landscape. For this design you can see the various plant communities that were created based on various site conditions; woodland, wetland and dry prairie. For example, downspouts create the opportunity to incorporate wetland plants, southern facing beds support dry prairie species, and large shade trees provide the ideal location for shady woodland plants. By selecting plants that are from these ecosystems, we know they will support one another and thrive under the same environmental conditions. Identifying microclimates allows you to create a diverse landscape design plan that will support a wide variety of pollinators, birds, and other wildlife. 

About Wild Ones

Wild Ones (a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization) is a knowledgeable, hands-on, and supportive community focused on native plants and the ecosystem that depends on them. We provide resources and online learning opportunities with respected experts like Wild Ones Honorary Directors Doug Tallamy, Neil Diboll, Heather Holm, and Larry Weaner, publishing an award-winning journal, and awarding Lorrie Otto Seeds for Education Program grants to engage youth in caring for native gardens.

Wild Ones depends on membership dues, donations and gifts from individuals like you to carry out our mission of connecting people and native plants for a healthy planet.

Looking for more native gardening inspiration? Take a peek at what our members are growing!