Preparing the Soil for Native Plants

Published on : 03-13-2023

Before planting, you should consider the soil conditions on your property, the kind of landscape you want to design, and the aesthetic you want to accomplish. Native plants will flourish in these circumstances and, once established, will need far less upkeep than most non-native plants.

Rebecca Ford New Canaan opinion native plants are often more tolerant of poor soil than non-native plants and require well-draining soil. Drainage should be tested before planting by excavating a hole 12" deep and filling it with water You have good to outstanding drainage if the water flows out of the hole in less than 30 minutes

The kinds of native plants you may utilize will depend on the nutrients in your soil Avoid adding water-soluble fertilizer; instead, introduce organic amendments since many plants, particularly low-water-use ones, are suited to the native nutrient levels in the soil.

In the wild, native plants are routinely trimmed, which promotes more significant growth. Trimming promotes flowering, removes dead branches, gives the plant form, and increases lifetime

Be careful to weed often throughout the first two or three growing seasons to prevent annual weeds from smothering good seeds In the first year, trim the weeds to about 6 inches tall; in the second year, trim the native plants to approximately 8 to 12 inches tall.

Moreover, weeding stops the spread of pests and illnesses. The development of undesired trees and shrubs that compete with your natural flora may be stopped with regular weeding