A garden is ever-changing: growing, maturing, evolving. There is nothing static about it, and every season is different. The goal for gardeners is to create spaces that can withstand all the challenges that come along, as well as to create a place for all of nature’s creatures to thrive and live together with minimal effort.
Incorporate mainly native plants for a reliable base-line. Some non-natives can be used but be conscious of any tendencies toward being invasive. This garden will go through phases of needing new plants and some corrective management, but this resilient garden will tolerate a lot of change with minimal care.
7 Points for a Robust and Flourishing Garden
Work with Your Growing Conditions – Soil Type, Slope, Sun Exposure
Plants thrive when growing in their preferred conditions. Work with your land instead of against it.
Soil Type – Plants thrive when growing in their preferred conditions. Discover the plants that do best in your soil-type. For example, if your soil is clay-based, don’t try to plant things that require a humus-rich, well-drained soil (like Azaleas).
Slope – Soil moisture and sun levels vary with slopes, and plants have adapted to these varying conditions. Steeper slopes have more run-off and tend to be drier. Slopes also have more or less sun exposure during certain seasons or times of the day. Plants that thrive on slopes may not do as well on flat ground or boggy areas. Take note of where patches of native plants grow best, then apply these principles to the varying conditions of your garden.
Sun Exposure – The number of hours of sun exposure, the difference between morning sun and afternoon sun, and the levels of shade or dappled shade all create many variations of light. The plants know the difference, and it’s up to the gardener to find where they grow the best.
An example of the importance of picking the right level of sun exposure is seen in my own garden with Oriental Lilies. My garden is basically all sun or all shade, and when planted in the sun, these lilies never live past the first year. Lilies don’t like full shade, so I had to get creative in my thinking. Placing them where they get morning sun has been perfect and some are now in their 4th year. I have found that the southeast side of small trees and large shrubs provides enough protection from the hot afternoon sun, yet they still receive the necessary 6 hours of sunlight.
Plant Smaller Plants
Arguments for planting bigger plants make sense when planting just a few pots. The project looks “finished” when using more substantial plants. The root system is more mature, and trees have had corrective pruning before making it to your yard. However, large planting projects become prohibitively expensive when using bigger plant materials.
The benefits for planting smaller plants (quart size and smaller) is that the root-to-shoot ratio allows for quick establishment and the plants will experience less transplant shock. Initial watering practices are easier with small plants. And, these smaller plants are more affordable.
Use Ground Covers to Reduce Weeds
Native perennial ground covers offer a host of benefits in addition to weed control. These low-growing plants reduce evaporation and keep the soil cool. Ground covers slow down water run-off allowing rain water to penetrate deeply into the soil. They blend well with taller neighbors filling in the bare spots, and they provide a food source and cover for small animals and insects.
Sun Tolerant Native Ground Covers: Rose Verbena, Purple Poppy Mallow, Evening Primrose, Rudbeckia fulgida, Amsonia, Ruellia, Skullcap, Wild Strawberry, Creeping Lespedeza, Coreopsis, Palm Sedge, June Grass.
Shade to Part-Sun Native Ground Covers: Groundsel, Sedum ternatum, Wild Sweet William, Sand Phlox, Crested Iris, Pussytoes, Robin’s Plantain, Dittany, Heuchera, Wild Ginger, Geranium, Oak Sedge, Pennsylvania Sedge.
Reduce Lawn Area and Plant More Pollinator-Friendly Gardens
Manicured lawns are not exactly the best habitat for pollinators and 
nature’s creatures. Though the lawn is a great place to walk, play, and create a nice contrast to gardens and landscapes, they can be reduced in size in order to leave more room for a nature-friendly environment. Less lawn also reduces fuel, emissions, and time required for mowing. Plant more pollinator-friendly gardens and less lawn.
Tips for a Healthy Lawn – Be sure to cut lawn grasses as high as possible. This allows for deeper roots and more leaf tissue for photosynthesis, resulting in a more resilient lawn, which in turn tolerates foot and equipment traffic, insect and disease issues, and drought and flooding conditions better.
The Benefits of an Imperfect Lawn – Keep in mind, bare spots in the lawn offers benefits to insects and wildlife in more ways than we are aware. Thin spots allow for native pollinators to build nests and to feed. Weeds that insist upon growing in the lawn may offer other benefits (ex- Lespedeza and White Clover). Striving for the perfect lawn using lots of chemicals and tedious tasks is not necessary.
Leave Wild Areas
Property edges consisting of trees, shrubs, and native forbs are a good place to support beneficial insects and birds, not only for your garden but for the neighborhood. These natural areas offer contrast to your yard and gardens, depth to the area, and a nice dark green backdrop, in addition to established corridors for erosion control.
Leave Debris Through Winter
The garden may look like it’s resting in winter, but it supports a great deal of life, both active and dormant. Leave seed heads intact through the winter to feed birds and small animals. Hollow plant stems serve as a winter home for insect pupae and eggs. Wait to cutback after spring has started to give these creatures a chance to emerge.
Focus on Flowers
A garden offers more than just the flowers. It provides food and shelter for animals, insects, and birds – the flowers are just an extra benefit. The more variety of flowers within a garden, the more diversity of food and shelter are provided for God’s creatures. So, plant to your hearts content and satisfy your desire for color and scent. By planting lots of different things, they will take care of more than you realize.
