Transform Your Yard: Lessons from Habitat’s Native Plant Garden

Almost two years have passed since the initial planting of Habitat Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary’s Nature by the Yard demonstration garden, which transformed the 1,500 square-foot monoculture grass lawn into a thriving, biologically diverse garden space. As you plan for spring and summer plantings, learn how you can apply these techniques to support biodiversity right at home. 

How to Sow Seeds of Success 

Start Planning Early 

Spring days may seem far away, but now is the perfect time to start planning your garden. If you’re looking to start from seed, many native plants require a cold stretch to germinate, so January and February are the perfect times to start.  

If you choose to buy seedlings over starting seeds, have a plan for sourcing plants. While the market demand for native plants is certainly growing, it can be challenging to source certain plants later in the season. Check out vendors like Blue Stem Natives and Native Plant Trust to see when they stock for the upcoming season. In late April, keep an eye on Habitat’s social media pages for information about our annual plant sale. 

Research Your Plant’s Needs 

Consider the nature of your plants when planning your landscape. Ideally, you choose based on the specific moisture and sunlight conditions of your space so they can reach their full potential. Including plants with a variety of bloom times and seasonal interest will provide resources for wildlife and beauty throughout the year. 

Healthy Soils Grow Healthy Plants  

Prior to our second round of planting, we sent a soil sample to UMass Amherst’s Soil Testing Lab to ensure our plants were suited to the soil conditions onsite. Thanks to our extensive preparation to build up the soil in advance, we found it to be extremely rich in macronutrients like phosphorus, calcium, and potassium. As a result, many of our perennials grew to upwards of six feet tall! 

Native plants often don’t need soil amendments because they’re adapted to New England soils, but if your soil needs it, build it up with nutrient-rich compost made with waste materials from Habitat’s very own goat herd. Visit the compost pile in the lower meadow by the hut to grab some for free! 

Prioritize Native Plants: They Require Less Maintenance 

Native plants have evolved and adapted to survive in New England, which means they require less maintenance than grass lawns and traditional manicured gardens, saving you time and money. The only consistent maintenance needed at Habitat’s garden was watering once a week during a particularly dry summer stretch, pulling out the occasional invasive Tree of Heaven or Porcelain Berry, and trimming stray vegetation from the path. Use the National Wildlife Federation’s Native Plant Finder to find plant options suited to your area. 

Outsmart Herbivores with Fencing & Strategic Plants 

Take your local herbivores seriously. Even if a plant is labeled as “rabbit resistant,” it may still be sampled by local fauna. Consider caging vulnerable plants with chicken wire or surrounding them with less-tasty plants like Anise Hyssop or Foxglove Beardtongue as a deterrent. While some asters and coneflowers did get nibbled on in our demonstration garden, having plants of varying appeal left the space lush and thriving overall. 

Avoid Chemical Herbicides & Pesticides 

Pests and weeds can cause problems in any garden, but there are ways to minimize these issues without using chemical herbicides and pesticides. It's important not just to provide habitat for wildlife, but to make sure they can thrive there too.  

At the Habitat garden, we laid down cardboard prior to planting to suppress weeds before they sprout. You can also use mulch to control outbursts of weeds, but once the native plants have taken over, we found that they shade out unwanted vegetation very effectively. 

Patience is Key 

Give your garden time to grow! There’s a saying with gardening perennials: “First they sleep, then they creep, then they leap!” After the first growing season, the “6 foot” label on the pack of seeds may seem deceptive, but just give it time.   

Embrace the Beauty of Wild Gardens 

Lastly, embrace imperfection. A native plant garden can manifest in a variety of sizes and aesthetics while still boosting biodiversity in your community. You’ll soon find your new garden bursting with life.  

A Nature by the Yard space may seem “messy” to some gardeners, but the pollinators circling around combined with the privacy from the tall, disorganized stems makes the space feel ethereal in the summer. Since planting, the Habitat garden has welcomed a variety of invertebrates: Monarch Butterflies, Tiger Swallowtails, Common Eastern Bumblebees, Black Dash Skippers, Calligrapher Flower Flies, Yellow Garden Spiders, and more. In addition, Wild Turkey, White-tailed Deer, Woodchucks, Garter Snakes, and Eastern Cottontail rabbits were also drawn to the safety (and buffet) of the space. 

Trust your aesthetic sensibilities, celebrate the uniqueness of your space, and encourage your friends and neighbors to do so too. 

Learn From Your Community 

You don’t have to figure out everything on your own! Tap into your local gardening community to learn and problem-solve together. Follow Habitat Education Center on Facebook and Instagram to connect with our virtual community, where we post updates on the garden, tips on fostering sustainable practices, and upcoming public programs. Habitat also has a regular volunteer group that meets weekly to take care of the gardens around the sanctuary, starting in the spring. 

Start Supporting Nature in Your Yard 

Urban and suburban areas don’t have to be separate from nature. With even the smallest amount of space, you can build habitat for native wildlife and support biodiversity.  

Looking for inspiration and support to get started? Visit Habitat Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary in Belmont to see the demonstration garden and pick up a packet of free starting seeds from our native seed library, generously provided by the Mystic Charles Pollinator Pathways Group. 

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