Native landscaping
Wisconsin has a vast number of low maintenance, hardy, even showy native plants which are underutilized in most modern landscapes. We aim to change that.
Will native plants be a lot of work?
No more work than traditional gardens. Native gardens are often designed with low-maintenance in mind, and after the first year or two they are even less work than many exotic plantings.
Are native plants more expensive?
No! Native plants can be purchased at various sizes much like traditional exotic nursery specimens. Plugs are an even more economical way to plant native gardens at just a few dollars per plant.
What makes a plant “native”?
In this context, native plants refer to plants which have been growing in Wisconsin before introduced plants, and are better suited to our soil and climate conditions because they evolved to grow here.
Will this attract bees and butterflies?
Yes! Native plants are exactly what our natural fauna need, with many being host plants for larval stages of moths and butterflies. Exotic plants offer little for native animals because evolved on other continents in completely different ecosystems.
Can I have a colorful garden with native plants?
Yes! It is a common misconception that native perennials are not beautiful or showy, and our designs consider traits like bloom time, bloom color, and texture to create year-round beauty in your landscape.
Can native landscaping mix with my existing gardens?
It’s not all or nothing! It is completely possible to blend traditional exotic ornamental plants such as daylilies, hostas, etc. with native plants. It can be a fun way to show off your plants by pointing out which plants are native in contrast with exotic ornamentals.
Examples of Native landscaping
Pollinator garden
Gardens really come alive when insects and other pollinators visit your plants! Pollinator gardens are a great way to support local biodiversity and can be extremely beautiful when in bloom.
Rain garden
Wet areas are often seen as a nuisance for traditional plants and turfgrass, but when using native plants suited to wet conditions they thrive! It is also a good way to prevent stormwater runoff as rain gardens can “suck up” huge amounts of water through transpiration. Turning a wet spot near a downspout, sump pump outlet, or natural swale into a cool feature in your landscape can be a great solution for wet, muddy areas.
Animal habitat
If you care about wildlife, one of the best things you can do is plant more native plants! Birds and insects are obvious beneficiaries of native landscaping, but why stop there! Creating habitat micro-zones such as basking rocks for reptiles, hollow cavities for animal nests, or small pools of water are a fantastic way to attract more wildlife to your landscape.
American prairie
Wisconsin used to have vast areas of prairies and savannah across the landscape but most has been lost due to land use change. Why not change it back! Prairie-style landscapes often plan more densely and include native grasses to allow plants to be touching and grow into each other. This is usually the most low-maintenance style of gardening while still evoking the visual impact of a prairie. Best suited for full-sun conditions using native prairie plants.
