During a recent visit to a friend’s backyard, I was drawn in by the variety of native plants, the pops of colors, and the many pollinators and wildlife that were frequent visitors to her garden. The space was not huge, but it was full of life and I wanted to create a similar eco-friendly environment in my flower beds.

Fall is the perfect time to plant, seed and relocate perennials. As the weather cools, the soil retains more moisture, therefore there’s less heat stress on the plants so they can acclimate better to their new location. In my eagerness to get my native plant garden started, my quick trip to the store left me disappointed as I found very few native plants. Refusing to let my enthusiasm be dampened, I collected seeds from the abundance of native seed heads from my friend’s backyard.

My first thought was to gather up the different varieties of seeds, label and sprinkle them in select locations in my flower beds, hoping that they will survive the winter and sprout next spring.

This method should work but there are so many factors working against me, such as the heavy rains washing away the seeds, gusty winds and the many foraging creatures, all of which will displace the seeds from their intended growing locations.

To increase my chances of success, I decided to use the cluster growing method which I often use when growing vegetable plants and other flowers in spring and summer. Essentially, I’ll do the following:

1. Sow many seeds in select locations: directly in the ground, some in seeding beds, and planter containers which will be nestled into the soil.

2. Ensure they stay moist, when we have several days or weeks without rain.

3. Cover with white plant cover to keep them warm, allow in light and help with moisture retention.

4. A metal screen and/or anchor stakes to keep the wildlife out and the cover in place.

By planting and overwintering my seeds in beds or containers, this allows them to go through a season of cold or dormancy which is often needed for many native seeds to germinate. For those seeds that do germinate, they will grow throughout the fall and winter, establishing a healthy root system, to be later divided and transplanted into their new locations in late winter or early spring.

This process will allow me the time to effectively plan and map out my native plant ecosystem taking in consideration my other perennials and my new native plants’ growth requirements.

Consider adding more native plants to your landscape; connect with your local extension office to learn more about native plants in your area. For more resources explore the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation’s guide to Buying and Growing Native Plants

Happy Gardening,

Shana