From Concrete to Conservation: Your Guide to Native Plant Gardening in St. Louis

From City Yard to Native Oasis: A St. Louis Transformation

Across the nation, homeowners are embracing a greener approach to landscaping, transforming their yards into vibrant havens for native plants and the wildlife they support. This shift is particularly exciting in urban environments, where even small spaces can make a significant impact. Today, we’ll delve into the inspiring journey of converting a city yard into a thriving native plant paradise, with a focus on the specific considerations for a St. Louis, Missouri, garden.

Planning Your Native Plant Garden

Before you even touch a spade, careful planning is essential. This stage involves understanding your space, researching suitable plants, and creating a design that meets your aesthetic goals and practical needs.

Assessing Your Space

The first step is a thorough assessment of your yard. Consider the following:

• Size and Shape: Knowing the dimensions of your planting area is crucial for determining how many plants you can accommodate and for designing the layout. In this case, we have an 18’x18’ city yard.
• Sunlight: Observe how much sunlight your yard receives throughout the day. Full sun (6+ hours of direct sunlight), partial sun (4-6 hours), and shade are key factors in plant selection. Consider the possibility that the amount of sun may vary during the year.
• Soil Type: Soil composition significantly impacts plant growth. The most likely soil in St. Louis is clay-based soil. If you aren’t sure, a soil test can provide valuable insights into nutrient levels and pH. Native plants often thrive in the native soil conditions, but amendments may be needed to improve drainage or add organic matter.
• Existing Vegetation: Note any existing plants, trees, or structures that will influence your design.
• Local Ordinances: Always check local ordinances and any homeowner association (HOA) rules regarding plant height, landscaping features, and permitted plant species.

Plant Selection

Choosing the right plants is the heart of a successful native garden. Native plants are adapted to the local climate, soil, and wildlife, making them low-maintenance and beneficial to the ecosystem. Considerations include:

• Height: Determine the maximum allowable plant height to comply with local ordinances and maintain the desired aesthetic. This is especially important in a city setting. If you have height restrictions, consider plants that can be pruned or plants with a naturally low growth habit.
• Bloom Time: Select plants with different bloom times to ensure a continuous display of flowers throughout the growing season, providing a consistent food source for pollinators.
• Growth Habit: Consider the mature size and spread of each plant to ensure they fit comfortably in your space and don’t overcrowd each other.
• Texture and Form: Mix plants with different textures and forms to create visual interest. Consider the contrast between upright plants, spreading groundcovers, and plants with varying leaf shapes.
• Seed Availability: Decide whether to start plants from seed or purchase established plants from a nursery. Growing from seed can be cost-effective and allows for a wider selection of native species.
• Soil Type Preference: Ensure the plants you select will thrive in your soil type. Choose plants that are well-suited to clay soils.

Garden Design

With the site assessment and plant selection complete, you can start designing your garden layout. Here are some design principles to keep in mind:

• Planting Density: Aim for a relatively dense planting, especially if you want a full look early on. This helps suppress weeds and creates a lush appearance.
• Clumping: Group plants of the same species together (clumping) to create visual impact and provide a concentrated food source for pollinators. Consider the mature size of the plants when determining spacing.
• Layering: Create a layered effect by combining plants of different heights, from low-growing groundcovers to taller flowering plants. This adds depth and visual interest to the garden.
• Pathways and Features: Consider adding pathways, seating areas, or other features to enhance the usability and enjoyment of your garden. These elements can be incorporated into the overall design.
• Aesthetic Appeal: Consider the overall aesthetic you want to achieve. Do you prefer a formal, structured look or a more naturalistic, wild aesthetic?

Plant Recommendations for a St. Louis Native Garden

Here are some native plant suggestions well-suited for the St. Louis climate, soil conditions, and design considerations:

Flowering Plants

• Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea): A classic native perennial, known for its vibrant purple daisy-like flowers that attract butterflies and bees. It thrives in full sun and tolerates clay soil.
• Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta): A cheerful, long-blooming perennial with bright yellow flowers and dark brown centers. It’s easy to grow, tolerates various soil conditions, and provides a valuable nectar source.
• Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa): An essential host plant for monarch butterflies, this plant features vibrant orange flowers. It prefers full sun and well-drained soil, but can be grown in clay with proper soil preparation.
• Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa): Also known as bee balm, this plant produces clusters of lavender-pink flowers that are highly attractive to pollinators. It thrives in full sun and tolerates various soil types, including clay.
• Asters (Symphyotrichum spp.): A group of late-blooming perennials that provide a splash of color in the fall, supporting migrating pollinators. They come in various colors and thrive in full sun or partial shade.
• Culver’s Root (Veronicastrum virginicum): Tall, elegant plants with spires of white or lavender flowers. They prefer moist soil and partial shade but can tolerate full sun if the soil is kept sufficiently moist.

Sedges and Grasses

• Pennsylvania Sedge (Carex pensylvanica): A versatile, low-growing sedge that forms dense clumps and is excellent for ground cover in shady areas. It can tolerate some sun and is adaptable to various soil types.
• Fox Sedge (Carex vulpinoidea): A taller sedge that thrives in moist conditions and can be used to add texture and height to the garden. It prefers full sun to partial shade.
• Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium): A beautiful native grass that provides year-round interest with its blue-green foliage and reddish-bronze fall color. It’s drought-tolerant and prefers full sun.
• Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum): Another excellent native grass with upright growth and airy seed heads. It comes in various cultivars with different heights and foliage colors. It prefers full sun and well-drained soil.

Integrating Sedges

Sedges are an excellent addition to native gardens for their texture, foliage variation, and ecological benefits. They can be incorporated in several ways:

• Groundcover: Use low-growing sedges like Pennsylvania Sedge to create a lush, weed-suppressing ground cover.
• Accent Plants: Plant taller sedges like Fox Sedge or Switchgrass as accent plants to add vertical interest and texture.
• Border Plantings: Use a mix of sedges and flowering plants along the edges of your garden to create a naturalistic border.
• Mixed Plantings: Combine sedges with flowering plants in mixed beds, considering the sun and moisture requirements of both types of plants.

Preparing the Site

Once the design is complete, it’s time to prepare the planting area. This includes:

• Removing Existing Vegetation: This step is crucial for a successful conversion. You can use several methods, including:
  • Solarization: Covering the area with clear plastic during the hottest months of the year to kill the existing vegetation. This is a non-chemical method, but it takes time.
  • Smothering: Covering the area with cardboard or landscape fabric to block sunlight and suppress the existing vegetation. This is another non-chemical method.
  • Herbicides: Using a non-selective herbicide (like glyphosate) to kill the grass and weeds. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions and take precautions to protect yourself and the environment.
  • Physical Removal: Removing the existing vegetation by hand, which can be a labor-intensive method.
• Soil Amendment: Since the soil is likely clay, amend the soil to improve drainage and aeration. This may involve adding organic matter such as compost, aged manure, or leaf mold. Incorporate the amendments thoroughly into the soil.
• Grading: Ensure that the soil surface is level and graded appropriately for drainage.

Planting and Maintenance

• Planting: Plant the seedlings or sow seeds according to the plant’s specific requirements. Water thoroughly after planting.
• Watering: Water regularly during the first growing season to help the plants establish. Once established, native plants are relatively drought-tolerant.
• Mulching: Apply a layer of mulch (such as shredded bark or wood chips) around the plants to help retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature.
• Weeding: Remove any weeds that may compete with the native plants, especially during the establishment phase.
• Pruning and Cleanup: Prune plants as needed to maintain shape and encourage flowering. Leave seed heads standing through the winter to provide food and habitat for wildlife, then cut back in late winter or early spring.
• Monitoring: Regularly monitor your garden for any signs of pests or diseases. Address any issues promptly.

The Long-Term Benefits of Native Gardening

Converting your yard to native plants is an investment in the health of your local ecosystem and the well-being of your community. Here are some of the long-term benefits:

• Supporting Pollinators: Native plants provide essential food and habitat for pollinators, such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, which are crucial for plant reproduction and ecosystem health.
• Providing Habitat for Wildlife: Native plants attract a variety of wildlife, including birds, insects, and small mammals, creating a vibrant and diverse ecosystem.
• Conserving Water: Native plants are adapted to the local climate and require less water than traditional landscape plants, reducing water consumption and conserving resources.
• Reducing the Need for Fertilizers and Pesticides: Native plants are naturally resistant to pests and diseases and often thrive in the native soil, reducing the need for chemical inputs.
• Enhancing Biodiversity: Native gardens promote biodiversity by providing a diverse range of plant species and supporting a wide variety of wildlife.
• Improving Air and Water Quality: Plants help filter pollutants from the air and water, improving air and water quality.
• Creating a Beautiful and Unique Landscape: Native gardens are not only ecologically beneficial but also offer a unique aesthetic appeal, with a wide variety of plant forms, colors, and textures.

A Rewarding Endeavor

Converting your yard to natives is a rewarding project that benefits both you and the environment. By following these steps and incorporating the principles of native plant gardening, you can create a beautiful, sustainable, and ecologically rich garden that enhances your quality of life and contributes to a healthier planet. Remember to be patient and enjoy the process. Native gardens often take a few years to fully establish, but the results are well worth the wait. Happy gardening!