How I Established My Native Wildflower Garden

[@AlonaPalmer-k6t]

Wow, beautiful garden! Thanks for sharing this with us! 😍

[@BrokenGround]

You're welcome, thanks for watching!

[@bethmadden479]

Excellent! Thank you for documenting your process to show others.

[@BrokenGround]

Yes, I was finally able to use all of those videos that I've taken over the years! Thanks for the work that the Montana Native Plant Society is doing as well! If you think this will help others, please pass it along to them!

[@ourmontanahomestead8880]

Lovely area! I hope this becomes the new normal “yard” ! ❤😊

[@BrokenGround]

Yes! Me too!!

[@swann548]

Love your channel ❤

[@BrokenGround]

Thanks! And thanks for watching my content!

[@kristidubois8400]

Wow, your soil looks quite lovely! Our substrate is rock and clay, and the builders brought in topsoil when they built all the homes in this area. If I scraped it, I would not have soil left. As it is, I have to weed with a rock hammer after things dry up. Planting things often requires a rock hammer, or a pick if we need a larger hole for a larger potted plant. I live in the north hills area of Missoula, and we also have wildfire to worry about, after seeing what has happened in large wildfires that have burned right through subdivisions and towns in other areas. We have reduced our lawn area over the years, but still have more lawn than I would like. I also planted aspen because I love them, but that means cutting aspen suckers that pop up in the wildflower beds. Your yard looks wonderful.

[@BrokenGround]

Yes, if you don't have much topsoil then using the sheet mulching method to establish a wildflower garden like this one would also work. That's how I established our annual garden out back. It was rocky and compacted so didn't make a lot of sense to dig down. But yes, we have great soil for the most part!

[@janxious]

Very nice! I have a similar setup in my much smaller front yard area to help pollinators and noise abatement.

[@BrokenGround]

Fantastic! Are you familiar with Doug Tallamy's Homegrown National Park? I am thinking of putting my garden on the map and you should too (if you're in the US)! www.homegrownnationalpark.org/

[@jeffjones9792]

What a great garden. Interesting about your thoughts regarding dandelions. They are a 'superfood', but often maligned, concidered to be invasive. I'm in the UK with a smallholding. Two high sided raised beds, with dandlions in one, stinging nettles in the other . Both high enough to cover with fine netting to prevent seeds wandering off. Keep up the good work. Looks unkempt at first glance, but a lot of thought gone into the project. like it a lot.

[@BrokenGround]

Yes, I agree with you that dandelions have become maligned and are a superfood that can be beneficial. However, in the context of establishing a wildflower native garden, the natives simply can't outcompete them. So that's why I mention them as something to be conscious of. But agreed, they definitely have their place, just not when you are wanting native plants to take hold. Glad you like the garden!

[@raapanui9931]

Wondering why you remove the dandelion? 😊

[@BrokenGround]

I do love dandelions but in the context of establishing a native garden, they’ll outcompete the natives so it’s best to remove many of them, at least initially, until your garden is more established.

[@jrdahl711]

Where did you get your plugs?

[@BrokenGround]

I got them from Westscape Wholesale nursery. You might also want to check Great Bear Native Plants. I know they were selling trays of plugs to homeowners this spring.

[@jerifarmgirl4728]

Do you know if Great Bear is a retail nursery? I stopped by there on a weekend and no one was available. Thank you! I’m in north Missoula county.

[@BrokenGround]

@@jerifarmgirl4728 they usually sell retail at certain nurseries but I would give them a call to see whether they ever sell plug trays directly. You can see their info here: www.greatbearnativeplants.com/contact-us

[@silversage03]

I would love to do this on our property, but right now I am battling Field Bindweed. We're on a very old property, and I barely knew what that stuff was when we arrived here. Glad to find your channel for all your wonderful info!

[@BrokenGround]

@@silversage03 Bindweed! I know the feeling! Good luck! I've found that outcompeting it with other plants is the best way to go but still super challenging. Glad you found my channel. Thanks for watching the videos!