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Hello all! I don’t know about you, but this lovely spring weather that we have been having lately has put me in the mood to be outside.
For this reason, I thought I would spend today talking about my favorite outdoor activity: gardening. More specifically, how you can plant a native garden to increase biodiversity in your own lawn!
Growing native is the practice of planting vegetation that is from the area you live in, which in our case is Ohio. This may not seem like a big deal, but the reality is that a lot of the flora you see on a daily basis are invasive, meaning they come from a different place and were likely spread by humans.
When you plant native, you create a habitat for other native animals and insects, many of which tend to be threatened or endangered.
Native gardens are especially important for pollinators, like bees and monarchs. Pollinators are critical because, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, they are responsible for the health of 80% of flowering plants and 75% of the crops that make up our food supply.
April happens to be the perfect time to start planting. I’ve already started clearing out my garden for this year! If you want to grow your own garden (which I highly recommend you do) follow the steps below!
Before you even begin planting, it is essential to do your research. Not everyone’s lawns are the same, so you need to find plants that best fit your circumstance. Make sure to consider the amount of sunlight needed, drainage and how often you can water your seedlings.
As far as how to acquire native plants, the Cincinnati Nature Center does an annual native plant sale, which will be on April 25 this year. I’ve also heard good things about Keystone Flora – their staff is said to be extremely knowledgeable if you have any specific questions.
You can also buy your seeds online, I would recommend from OPN Seed which has a large variety of seed mixes, all native to Ohio, that are relatively cheap.
Finally, you could always stop at your local garden store, just make sure that you go in knowing which plants are native—it can be easy to get tricked and buy the wrong plant.
Specific plants to look out for that are native to Ohio include purple and grey-headed coneflowers, mountain mint, wild bergamot, black-eyed Susans (my favorite), blue wild indigo and so many others! There are so many varieties of wildflowers that you can grow that the opportunities truly are endless.
If you can, I would also recommend planting trees and shrubs since these too add biodiversity to your garden and support even more native organisms. Common favorites include pawpaws (which produce a delicious fruit similar to a banana), tulip trees and red maple.
If you want to help out monarchs, an especially important yet threatened species, make sure to plant milkweed. These plants also have beautiful flowers, so it’s really a win-win situation for your lawn.
Once you’ve picked out your plants, you can start the growing process! First, choose a spot and clear out existing plant growth, especially if it’s invasive. You can adapt a previous flowerbed or even remove the grass from a section of your lawn.
Next, plant your garden! If you are using seeds, carefully spread them across the surface and compress them into the soil. If you are planting sprouts or bulbs, dig a few inches into the soil and place the plant, covering it with a layer of soil. Make sure to water during the first few weeks and during drought but these hardy plants should be able to take care of themselves.
You can even buy or make a handy-dandy sign that officially recognizes your garden as a native garden. Not only is this super cool, but it also informs passerbys about the importance of planting natives and maybe even encourage them to plant their own!
I hope that you have so much fun planting your very own native garden and see lots of cool species!
Elena