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Observe the many factors that shape your landscape.

Note how the sun tracks across your yard and for how long; where stormwater runoff crosses your property or pools; and what type of soil you have (ex. clay, loam, sand). Every property is unique and comprehending the characteristics of your yard will better aid you in choosing the right plants for your place.

Envision your future garden and the life you will spend there.

Are you looking to create a shaded area of tranquility or a sunny space that will add color and vibrancy? Determining the type of garden that will bring you the most joy will aid in narrowing down your plant palette.

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Start small.

It is better to allow your garden to grow commensurate with what you can manage. Gardens are work, but they are rewarding overall—especially when growing with native plants, because they are often quick to establish, require little input to grow well, and the wildlife benefits can be immediately enjoyed.

Design your garden in layers to build a structurally diverse environment.

Down in the herbaceous layer, utilize a mixture of plants that have different leaf shapes, textures, flower structures and heights. Above, you can include a suitable collection of shrubs, understory trees and canopy trees. This will establish a broad array of habitat value that can be executed on any scale. A diverse planting scheme serves a diversity of wildlife and functions, in addition to creating an aesthetically appealing display.

Observe, experiment and have fun!

We try our best to grow plants in the conditions where we believe they will thrive, but sometimes they have other ideas. It's important to observe the happenings in your garden and take note of how plants grow and reorder themselves. This will enable you to react and experiment with different plantings to better inform your future garden plans. Gardening is a fun, dynamic and creative way to express yourself—and when done with native plants, it is also immensely rewarding for you and the many critters that will rely on the bounty your yard will provide!