When to break the rulesĪlthough most natural gardens survive and thrive without fertilizer or pesticides, there are two notable exceptions. If your garden is near a structure, then pruning or trimming can keep their size in check, so they don’t grow too close to the structure. Focus primarily on removing dead or diseased limbs. If you’re including trees and shrubs in your natural garden, you may need to prune them occasionally. The goal of a natural garden is to create a little ecosystem, and ecosystems include insects. You may see pest damage to some of your plants, and that’s okay. There are a few exceptions, but in most cases, they aren’t necessary. Natural gardens shouldn’t need any fertilizers or pesticides. This isn’t strictly necessary, but it speeds up the germination process. If you decide to start some or all of your plants from seed, then you may want to start your seeds indoors or give them extra water while they germinate. Nature will do most of the work after you plant the ones you’ve chosen for your garden. Common honeysuckle ( Lonicera periclymenum) is considered naturalized rather than invasive and coral or trumpet honeysuckle ( Lonicera sempervirens) is native to the eastern United States. However, not all are native to the United States, such as Japanese honeysuckle ( Lonicera japonica), which is invasive in the United States. Honeysuckle ( Lonicera) is a genus of plants made up of many species. Pay attention to plant species when selecting your plants, as not every species in a genus is native to the same place. Avoid both naturalized and invasive species for natural gardens. Naturalized plants are less harmful to the environment or are less likely to spread. With plants, this typically comes in the form of outcompeting native species for space or nutrients. Invasive species are harmful to the local environment. Naturalized and invasive plants are both species of plants that are from elsewhere and begin to grow and spread in an area they are not native to. They have been part of the ecosystem for a long time and are specifically suited to that environment. Native plants evolved in a particular area without human intervention. Knowing the difference between native, naturalized, and invasive species is helpful when selecting plants for your natural garden. Open pollination means you don’t need to control the pollination of the plant in order to get seeds that are the same variety as the parent plant. The exact age a variety needs to be in order to be considered heritage or heirloom varies, but the most commonly accepted age is 50 years or older. The definitions of heritage and heirloom vary between sources, but they typically refer to older and open-pollinated varieties. Look for heritage or heirloom varieties in particular. The more specific you can get, the better off you’ll be, but don’t worry too much if you can’t find any region-specific information. For example, you might consider plants native to the East Coast, then narrow it down to plants native to North Carolina, then narrow it further to plants native to the mountains. Start by looking for plants that are native to your region broadly and then narrow it down to your specific area. Growing native plants is a major component of a natural garden. Since the plants are accustomed to the amount of rainfall you receive, the soil type and pH, and the local insects, you’re less likely to have to modify the soil, protect them from the elements, or give them supplemental water. They make use of organic gardening principles, such as avoiding pesticides and chemical fertilizers, and they strive to mimic nature.īy growing plants that are naturally suited to your local climate and soil, you greatly reduce the amount of work needed to maintain the garden. Natural gardens, also sometimes referred to as natural landscaping or native gardens, are gardens made up of native plants.
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