FROM THE BEGINNING STARTING YOUR NATIVE LANDSCAPE 2014 Presented by the Native Plant Society of Texas

OBJECTIVES ▪ Provide the basics for building a Texas native garden. ▪ Show the steps from start to finish. ▪ Three examples to show differing approaches. ▪ Demonstrate the fun and enjoyment. 8/8/142

PLANNING – WHAT’S YOUR OPPORTUNITY? ▪ Location – sun/shade, soil, existing ground cover, etc. ▪ Garden style – natural, formal ▪ Rules and ordinances ▪ Water restrictions ▪ Home Owners Association (HOA) ▪ Critters ▪ Make a sketch and a cost estimate 8/8/143

BED PREPARATION ▪ Establish perimeter (edging, garden hose, etc.). ▪ Remove ground covers. ▪ Avoid tilling ▪ Add amendments (compost, soil, decomposed granite, etc.). ▪ Add mulch 8/8/144

PLANT SELECTION AND INSTALLATION ▪ Select ▪ Design goals (e.g. butterflies, color scheme, etc.) ▪ Local availability ▪ Space requirements ▪ Plant compatibility (e.g. water needs) ▪ Install ▪ Mulch ▪ Water to establish 8/8/145

MAINTENANCE ▪ Watering ▪ Weeding/mulching ▪ Heading back (seasonal) ▪ Maintenance Guides 8/8/146

WINNIE’S GARDEN City lot, no HOA Western exposure Shallow soil, rock layer near surface St. Augustine grass Deer present Son helped install edging for perimeter 8/8/147

Applied 20% vinegar Solarized with black plastic for two weeks WINNIE’S GARDEN 8/8/148

Grass killed. WINNIE’S GARDEN 8/8/149

“Grunt work” Rake and then manually remove dead grass WINNIE’S GARDEN 8/8/1410

WINNIE’S GARDEN Installed weed preventer fabric, newspaper, and cardboard. Soil mix on top. Topped with mulch to hold soil over winter. 8/8/1411

Planted in spring Limited to 4” pots Finished garden WINNIE’S GARDEN 8/8/1412

KATHY’S GARDEN City lot, with HOA Black land soil Goal to reduce grass, water usage. Favors hand watering, uses rain barrels Several small beds in yard St. Augustine everywhere, Chinaberry tree 8/8/1413

KATHY’S GARDEN First bed – removed chinaberry tree and gained sunlight Manually dug out the St. Augustine – hardest approach Red yucca, evening primrose, and mealy blue Sage came from plant rescues Later added mint marigold and verbena 8/8/1414

KATHY’S GARDEN Second bed along the back fence St. Augustine solarized –easier grass removal 8/8/1415

KATHY’S GARDEN This is a simple garden built up along a backyard fence Thryallis Obtained from a commercial nursery Drought tolerant and deer resistant 8/8/1416

KATHY’S GARDEN Indian grass Rescued A good location for a tall grass in an HOA sub-division Planning helps to deal with HOA rules 8/8/1417

KATHY’S GARDEN Side oats grama Seeds obtained at the NPSOT Symposium 8/8/1418

KATHY’S GARDEN Big red sage Plants obtained at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center plant sale 8/8/1419

KATHY’S GARDEN Tropical milkweed with a monarch Seeds drive propagation 8/8/1420

KATHY’S GARDEN Butterfly chrysalis Natives Plants = Healthy Habitats Habitat brings native ecology 8/8/1421

KATHY’S GARDEN Third bed in front along sidewalk Sunny, western exposure Edging defines formal perimeter Newspaper and cardboard used to eliminate St. Augustine - easiest Plants from local nursery 8/8/1422

KATHY’S GARDEN Black foot daisy grouped with Damianita and other low water need plants Edging along sidewalk an HOA requirement – keeps soil off sidewalk 8/8/1423

MARILYN’S GARDEN Rural location, eastern exposure, black land soils Inspired by Winnie and Kathy to reduce grass area Wildlife friendly: feeders, water resources, pollen producing plants Bermuda grass difficult to control 8/8/1424

MARILYN’S GARDEN Make a simple plan Garden shape, plant selection and arrangement, etc. Location planned based on mowing patterns Minimize number of passes between beds Avoid corners Minimize trimming Includes existing Mexican plum tree. 8/8/1425

MARILYN’S GARDEN Solarized with plastic for an entire summer Lifted dead grass, and removed soil from roots Dead grass piled in center to create a raised area 8/8/1426

MARILYN’S GARDEN Placed layer of cardboard over pile of dead grass. Gradually covered with soil and rocks as work moved to perimeter 8/8/1427

MARILYN’S GARDEN For the remainder of the bed: Removed several inches of soil Placed a layer of cardboard Replaced the soil on top This is a step-by-step process Took about two weeks 8/8/1428

MARILYN’S GARDEN Bed preparation and planting occurred in late January Gallon pots – plants placed on top cardboard Roots placed in mixture of soil and compost, then mulched Holes punched through cardboard for two antique roses 8/8/1429

MARILYN’S GARDEN The new garden at five months Hand watered Weeds under control. Limited maintenance required No deer, but persistent armadillos, raccoons, and possum 8/8/1430

MARILYN’S GARDEN A late summer view Proper spacing when planting allows growth to maturity without crowding It’s enjoyed every day Planned winter work Remove dead material and cut back as recommended Remove weeds Add compost and mulch 8/8/1431

SOME KEY IDEAS TO TAKE WITH YOU ▪ Start with a plan ▪ Understand what you are starting with ▪ Decide what you want to end up with ▪ Be patient and go step-by-step ▪ Find help when you need it – lots of expertise in people, books, websites ▪ Start with something simple, gain experience, and learn ▪ There’s more than one way to do things ▪ Find what works for you and have fun doing it 8/8/1432

SOME WEBSITES TO TRY ▪ Williamson County NPSOT Website npsotwilco.wordpress.com/ ▪ Local nurseries ▪ Maintenance Guide ▪ Plant list ▪ News and other information ▪ Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center wildflower.org ▪ Photos by Winnie Bowen, Kathy Henderson, and Marilyn Perz 8/8/1433