What are native plants?

The BCNWP website will have information about native plants suited to the Brown County area. What are native plants? Plants growing naturally in areas before European settlers came are considered native plants. Native plants are found in meadows, prairies, rocky areas, road sides, edge of the woods, woodland, ponds, and pond edges and can be planted in a home garden. They include flowers, trees, shrubs, grasses, sedges, vines, and other plants.   Native plants have adapted to local climate and growing conditions. When first planted they will require some attention until they are established. Once established they have low resource requirements such as water or fertilizer. They are generally free of serious pests and, in general, are not aggressive. Diversified populations of wildlife are sustained and enhanced by native plants.  It is very important to monitor both wild areas and gardens to remove non-native invasive plants before they take hold and displace native plant communities by preventing the seeding and growth of native plants.

Planting recommendations

Some of the native plant nurseries offer only a mail order service.  Plants will be shipped either as bare roots, small pots of about 3”,  or plugs. Plugs are about 2 1/2” x 4 1/2”.  I prefer to pot or repot  these plants before putting them in the ground. Purchase a potting mix/soil; not garden soil. I find regular garden soil too heavy. Roots  need room to stretch out. The better the root system when planted the  more quickly the plant will become established.

For bare root plants, plugs, and small pots, fill a clean pot with  about an inch or so of potting mix. For bare root plants and plugs use  a quart sized pot unless the roots of the bare root plant require a  bigger pot when they are spread out. For the small pot use a gallon pot for repotting. Slightly moisten the potting mix to make watering after potting easier. For bare root plants spread the roots out and place on top of the mix. Fill in around and on top of the roots. When the pot is filled to about 3/4” from the top, gently pull the stem of the plant so that most of the stem is above the mix and roots are almost at soil level. Gently pat the mix over and around the roots. Gently hand water making sure that the potting mix is moist but not saturated. Do not overwater. Add more potting soil to cover any roots that are exposed after watering. For plugs and small pots gently loosen the roots of the plant before potting and follow the above directions. Put the plant in bright light but out of direct afternoon sunlight for a few days. Gradually increase the amount of sunlight the plant receives according to the needs of the plant.

Prepare the area(s) where the plant will be planted. Loosen heavy soil by adding compost. If the soil is sandy, add compost to help with moisture and nutrient retention. The addition of compost to any soil is helpful. Do not plant the plants too deeply. A good rule of thumb is for the plant’s top roots to be at soil level but not exposed.  I water new plants with a weak root stimulating/plant starting fertilizer where the number for phosphorus (P) is twice or three times larger than for nitrogen (N) and potassium (K). Examples of these proportions are: N 5, P 15, K 5 or N 4, P 10, K 3. Be sure to follow directions. More is not necessarily better. Be sure to monitor any new planting to prevent drying out. A layer of shredded leaf mulch is beneficial.  Shredded leaves help conserve water discourage weeds, promote soil fertility, and help maintain a more even soil temperature. Avoid bark chips as they deplete the soil of nitrogen as they decay.

Remember: plant the right plant in the right place.

Jane Savage
BCNWP board member