If you’re new to native gardening, you might not know all the tips and tricks just yet.
The first time I planted a native flower in my garden, I thought I was absolutely terrible at it. Within just a few days, the goldenrod looked like it had completely died and withered away. I couldn’t even find it in the garden anymore.
It totally ruined the excitement I had for native gardening.
I had heard all over that native plants are easier to take care of. I thought they were meant to grow in my backyard and wouldn’t really need extra help.
So why did this one die immediately?
Were all the native gardeners lying to me? Was there actually some secret to planting native that I hadn’t learned yet?
The answer is yes, but it’s not quite what you think.
Two years after I had planted my goldenrod, I finally got to see it bloom.
It was a beautiful sight, and all the insects flocked to it because it was one of the only flowers still blooming in the fall.
In the years between when I first planted it and when it finally bloomed, I learned a little phrase that native gardeners use to keep themselves sane.
Sleep, Creep, Leap
It turns out, the secret to planting native is…
Patience.
You spent time researching the perfect plants to put in your yard, made the trip to the nursery, and excitedly picked out your favorite flowers. You’ve been planning your perfect garden for two months, and can’t wait to get home and get them planted!
You tirelessly crawl through the piles of fresh dirt on your hands and knees. The sun is beating down, and you are uncomfortably warm, but the sheer excitement of a new garden is keeping your spirits high. You carry on digging and planting and watering.
You check back on the plants regularly, but every day they seem to be getting just a little bit worse.
The leaves on every single one of your plants start to wither, yellow, or wilt away.
Every time you peel back the curtains to look at your garden, you get this sinking feeling in your chest because you know you’re doing something wrong.
Native gardening was supposed to be easier. The plants were supposed to be able to grow on their own. You weren’t supposed to have to tend to them this much.
You wouldn’t know just from looking at the plants, but there’s actually nothing wrong. You have done your research and you did everything right.
When you first plant a native flower in your garden, the plant really only has one goal in mind.
It needs stronger roots.
The first year, plants are using all their energy below the surface to make a strong supportive root system. So it’s growing a lot, but you wouldn’t know it from the looks of the leaves.
This is known as the “Sleep” stage. Because it looks like the plants are sleeping.
This can be really disappointing, and even nerve wracking, to new gardeners who don’t know the trick and were excited for a colorful garden right away.
It’s a year later.
Spring has finally rolled around. The sun is coming up earlier, the air is feeling fresh, the songbirds are back and shower you with songs every morning.
You walk outside into your garden, still a little heartbroken from last spring.
You were so excited for a colorful garden that never came. You still want to support the native insects, but you don’t know if your heart, or your wallet, can afford another try.
But wait.. what’s that over there?
Are those columbine leaves popping up out of the ground over there?
No, there’s no way. All your native plants died immediately after planting them.
Or did they?
Next up comes the “Creep” stage.
At this point, you’re surprised that your plants came back this year, but you are once again hoping that the plants have strong enough roots to bloom, and you’ll finally get that bright and colorful garden that you always dreamed of.
Well prepare to be disappointed!
During the Creep stage, plants are still conserving energy. One or two might bloom this year, but for the most part, you’re going to have a pretty green garden.
The plants are still working hard at establishing a really strong root system, they’re not ready to waste their energy on flowers yet.
You will see plants start to “creep” out of the ground. They will be growing slowly, and at this point they are still fairly short compared to their mature height, and they will rarely flower in the second year.
Remember, patience is key!
Okay, another year.
You can’t take it anymore. You know deep down in your heart of hearts that all your neighbors are whispering about your garden behind your back.
“Did you see her yard last year? She calls herself a gardener but she can’t even grow any flowers!”
That’s it.
You’re giving up on the native garden.
You gave it a good hard try, two years of watering and pruning and worrying.
And what did it get you?
Diddly squat.
Those plants can just go ahead and die if they want to, what do you care? They certainly never cared about you!
But like a bad ex that just doesn’t seem to know when to quit, these plants decided to come back just one more time.
These plants came back with chocolates, a new mixtape, a heartfelt apology, and best of all, they came back with flowers.
This is the “Leap” stage.
Your years of worry are finally paying off.
The roots are well established, they have stored up enough energy, and they are ready to thank you for the beautiful life that you have provided for them.
They are blooming in ways that you could have only ever imagined. The colors are so vibrant, the smells so sweet, and the life that it brings to your yard is incredible.
Fireflies and caterpillars and ladybugs and crickets and bees surround your flowers. You can almost make out their yelps of gratitude in all the buzzing.
You can now finally enjoy that beautiful, colorful garden that you have always dreamed about.
In your journey making a native garden, you are going to learn a lot about native plants. You are going to learn what plants like full sun, and which plants would rather die than see the light of day. You are going to learn what kinds of insects your plants attract. You are going to learn what you do and do not need to do in order to support your garden.
But if there is one thing that you remember about native gardening, I hope it’s this:
Never give up.
There will be times when you know you are doing something wrong.
And there will be times when you think you may be doing something right.
But you will never know for sure until you try.
So keep trying.
