NATIVE LANDSCAPING
Native landscaping is a paradigm shift in the way we look at our residential and commercial spaces. Rather than just using plants as aesthetic items in the landscape, native landscaping combines aesthetics with the need to restore biodiversity, soil quality, water quality, and a sense of pride in Iowa’s natural heritage. Native plants aren’t just for humans, they’re for all the other living creatures that we share space with. Whether you want the wild look of a prairie, a more traditional look, or something in the middle, we’ll work with you to design a landscape that fits you. All of our plants are grown from seeds found in wild areas from as close to you as possible, usually less than 100 miles away. We rarely use cultivars, and never plants that are not native to the Midwest.
Getting Started-
We’ll do an initial site visit to meet with you and get an idea of how you’d like to incorporate native plants into your property. During the visit we’ll take photos and measurements and get an idea of the general site conditions. Soil moisture, soil type, light, and other factors are critical when picking the right plants for your property. We’ll also discuss your cost-share availability
Design-
After the site visit, we’ll put together a design. The fun begins as we put together a unique plant community just for your site, ensuring flowers from April to October, and visual interest year- round. Note, cost share programs often require a design prior to approval.
Site Preparation-
Preparing your property for install of plants will vary widely depending on the site conditions. The end goal is to get rid of all unwanted plants and if necessary, amend the soil to ensure the success of your planting.
Planting!
Our plantings are usually composed of small plugs, spaced 12-24 inches depending on the species of plant. For weed control, we use garden paper laid down and covered with mulch from a local tree company. Over time the mulch and paper will break down, allowing the plants to spread and fill out any gaps.
Maintenance
Directly after planting, a watering regime may be prescribed depending on weather conditions. We highly recommend to all clients that they purchase a watering timer, hose, and sprinklers. The watering timer will reduce your workload as it takes a while to fully water in a planting by hand. If you have a lot of pressure from deer or rabbits, it may also be recommended that temporary fencing be put up while the plants get established.
While we all hope that weeds won’t show their ugly face, it’s vital to monitor for any problematic weeds. Right after planting and for years to come. Our plant ID skills are sharp and we can identify any weed that may come our way.
Long-term maintenance is also important, and often the question of when to cut back your planting is top of mind. We recommend annually cutting plantings back in the spring right around warm-up. Cutting back in the fall can kill many of the native insects that use the native plants to overwinter, and keeping your plants up in the winter can provide cover and food for birds as well. On top of that, native plants look good no matter the season! Neglecting to cut back your plantings can lead to invasion by trees or shrubs. Remember, Iowa would have been one big forest had it not been for indigenous peoples burning the land and bison grazing it.
Contact Us
Leave your information and a let us know how you’d like to incorporate native plants into your property.