Getting Started with Native Plants
Our step-by-step guide helps you meet your native landscaping and native plant gardening goals. Whether you live on a city lot or in the country, adding even a few native plants can make a difference.
Wild bergamot is an easy addition to any native garden that bees will love.Step 1: Delineate and Measure Planting Area
This will help you determine how many plants or seeds you need. Measure in square feet for small plantings, and acres for large areas.
Step 2: Evaluate Site Conditions
Soil type
Learning what type of soil you have doesn't have to be complicated. Do a "mason jar soil test" or connect with your local UW Extension office to inquire about soil testing.
Soil moisture & drainage
| Soil moisture level | Drainage | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Dry soils | Extremely well-drained | With sand, gravel and rocks |
| Moist soils | Regularly damp, only has standing water for short periods | Loamy (mixture of sand, silt, and clay) |
| Wet soils | Remain damp year-round and may have standing water for long periods | Clay |
Black-eyed Susans grow in a variety of soil conditions and prefer lots of sunlight.Light regime
- Full sun: 6+ hours of sun per day
- Partial sun: 4-6 hours of sun per day
- Shade: Less than 4 hours of sun per day
Step 3: Select plants appropriate for your site’s conditions and your goals
Native Plant Gardening at Home
- Native plants for beginners
- DNR's "Wisconsin Native Plants: Recommendations for Landscaping and Natural Community Restoration"
Native Plants for Pollinators
- Plant for monarchs
- DNR's native pollinator page
- Xerces’ Pollinator Meadow Installation Guide and Checklist
Native Plants for Birds
Stormwater Management
Shoreline Stabilization and Restoration
Wildlife Habitat
Large-Scale Native Plant Gardening and Ecological Restoration
- UW-Extension Prairie Primer
- Plant Species Composition of Wisconsin Prairies: An Aid to Selecting Species for Plantings and Restoration Based Upon Univ. Of Wisconsin-Madison Plant Ecology Lab Data
- “The Tallgrass Restoration Handbook for Prairie, Savannas, and Woodlands” by Stephen Packard and Cornelia F. Mutel Island Press: Washington D.C., 1997
Step 4: Decide on Seeds, Plants or Both
Each method of planting native plants has pros and cons. Comparing both can help you determine which is right for you and your space.
| Seeds | Plants |
|---|---|
| More cost-effective | More expensive |
| Can be sown throughout the year | Can be installed in spring, summer and fall |
| Plants grow more adapted to the local site conditions | Risk of transplant shock |
| Can take 1-3 years for plants to establish and flower | Establish more quickly |
| Weeds and competing plants need to be controlled | Regular watering needed for several weeks after installation |
Step 5: Find A Source For Seeds and Plants
- Wisconsin Native Plant Nurseries
- Xerces’ Milkweed Seed Finder
- Native Plant Sales Listing
- Check for listings being added regularly between January and August.
- Reach out to local garden clubs, Wild Ones chapters, and neighbors
- Learn how to gather native plant seeds by becoming a State Natural Area Volunteer.
Step 6: Consider Hiring Help
Wisconsin Restoration Contractors are professionals who can help you with planning, installation and maintenance. Some native plant nurseries also do home garden and ecosystem installations.
Step 7: Keep A Planting Log
Create a simple map of your garden showing where, when and what you planted. Refer to this log and note which species were successful and which didn’t work out. During the winter, use your planting log to review your goals and make plans for revising and expanding your native plant garden.