Garden Refresh: Designing a Native Garden

If you always wanted to start landscaping with native plants and didn't know where to start, this is the webinar to watch. Learn how to start designing your own native garden and about beautiful, native plants that will attract pollinators to your garden.
Join us for a discussion of how we're refreshing and redesigning the garden around the entry to the Clow House at McDonald Farm. Staff members Jan Roehll and Nancy Cinatl, will discuss the steps they took to get started, the thinking that went into the native plants they chose, and how the design was laid out.
Sponsored by Bedrock Earthscapes LLC
If you've created a native garden at home, we want to recognize your hard work through our Conservation@Home program. Learn more at www.theconserv...

[@carterwaldren4035]

its very rare to have someone explain the secession of plant growth from a design perspective. Thank you for making this video.

[@lynngleason3108]

This was an awesome presentation! Thank you for your time and knowledge Jan and Nancy! I learn more and more every time! Thank you❣️

[@TheConservationFoundation]

Thanks for your feedback, Lynn! We're happy you are enjoying our webinars and learning something new!

[@greenandblueecocare5544]

Great tips!! Thanks!

[@alliehamilton-calhoun162]

Watching from South of you in McLean County. This was a wonderful presentation and so informative. Thank you! One of my favorite things to do on my vacation from work every summer is to get rid of the grass in my yard. I belong to Wild Ones and purchase native plants from them for my pollinator garden every year. The neighbors don't seem to approve of my lack of grass but are, at the same time, envious of the cloud of butterflies I always seem to have!

[@TheConservationFoundation]

Glad you have a good source of native plants! But yes, we still have some work to do when it comes to rethinking the American lawn and making native gardens more accepted. Thanks for watching!

[@TheConservationFoundation]

Want to know how the garden turned out? Watch the follow up webinar where we talk about successes, challenges, and what we've learned from doing this project: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z2e9l5eng7WMd9U Find the finished garden plans on our website: www.theconservationfoundation.org/garden-refresh/

[@metalarbort1054]

Regarding the neonicitinoids that may be used in the nursery: it is important to remember nurseries undergo state inspection. Even if they are against general pesticide use they still have to maintain certification. A more targeted approach with different pesticides is possible, but may not be cost effective. Unless banned that family of chemicals remains cheap and effective.

[@adz5bneweng589]

Very interesting and informative. I reviewed the plant list and am wondering why allium, Calamintha nepeta (maybe some others)? Are those native? If not, what ratio do you aiem for between natives and invasives?

[@TheConservationFoundation]

We’re glad to hear you found the presentation interesting and informative. As for choosing native plants over native cultivars (which are native plants that have been cultivated for particular characteristics), we always look to use the native species first, particularly in a woodland setting or in a prairie area (small or large). However, in this presentation we wanted to show that around your house, in a place where you want a more manicured look, there are cultivars of native plants that still function well for wildlife (i.e. for pollinators and birds) but are better suited in size or color scheme than the straight native species. For a percentage, I would suggest 80% natives species to 20% cultivars (though for trees, natives are much preferred). We make a distinction between invasives (which are native in other countries) which we never recommend and aggressive plants (which are natives that spread like crazy). The cultivars we recommend are native to the U.S. Some non-native cultivars like lilacs are not an issue to plant whereas others like the Bradford pear have escaped into natural areas. So it is important to research or seek advice about which cultivars to use. We hope this explanation clarified our use of cultivars.

[@Cathy24601]

Daylillies provide blocks of color that draw pollinators to the yard. Pollinators will go on them when there isn’t anything else like late in the season. They do feed aphids which feed beneficial insects. The roots and flowers are edible.

[@rogerstelle4135]

Should you water even if ground is frozen?

[@TheConservationFoundation]

If the ground if frozen, the water won't be able to absorb into the soil and will run off. The only plants that may need water in the winter are your evergreen trees and shrubs, but most likely there has been enough rainfall in autumn to get them through the winter. The rest of the native plants are dormant in the winter. Thanks for the question!

[@uboobly]

Some of these plants are "native" to North America, but not Northern Illinois

[@rogerstelle4135]

Doug Tallamy is free m Delaware

[@evanklinefelter2222]

He lives in Chester County, Pennsylvania, and works at U. Of Delaware.