During September, summer and autumn overlap. Temperatures and blooming phenology may vary this month, but the trend is cooler days with fewer flowers. Leaves and grasses begin to change color as flowering tapers off. The equinox highlights a steeper rate of change in day length. Other environmental cues lead to fewer flowers, more seeds, senescence and seed dispersal. Our garden tasks include seed harvesting, trimming, weeding, and emptying and storing hoses. We also reflect on the growing season to note garden changes and new learning opportunities it inspires.

With continuing and increasing public interest in native plant gardening at home and in community spaces, we receive many requests for help and resources. Gardeners’ questions include: Which native plants will grow best in my yard? How do I care for native plants? How can I manage a pollinator-friendly lawn? How do I start a native plant garden? Which native plants could I add to my existing garden? Who can give me advice or create a plan specifically for my site? How can I work with a landscaping company to establish native plants? You can learn through webinars, conferences, garden tours, and by monitoring your own plantings and trials.

Some landscaping companies specialize in, or are experienced with, native plants. Others may be just starting to develop expertise in this area or have no experience. If you are working with a contractor, start with clear goals for your project and ask about similar projects they’ve completed. Discuss the scale of your project, and a phased approach if that better fits your time and budget.

Study your site (sun, soil, slope, and building locations) to identify suitable areas for plants with different needs. Specify using diverse plants native to your region, rather than “wildflowers” or a “wildflower mix.” Those mixes usually contain short-lived non-native plants that will not persist or establish root systems that can outcompete weedy species over time. Learn recommendations for site preparation and guidelines for short- and long-term garden management.

Consider whether to start with seeds or small plants (from nurseries that do not use systemic insecticides in production) or a combination. Visit native gardens, restorations, and natural areas to learn which plants grow together under conditions found in your own landscape. If this advice seems overwhelming at first, start with small scale projects and take on more area as your knowledge and confidence increase.

When landscapers and gardeners ask good questions, explore successful demonstration gardens, share clear project expectations, and manage adaptively (“learning while doing”), a rewarding collaboration leads to success, satisfaction, and enjoyment.

As fall begins, I thank the summer 2024 native plant garden student staff, Leah and Jordyn, and dozens of volunteers whose contributions of time, energy, and interest improve our garden all season long. Their work, both at home and in their neighborhoods, ripples beyond the Arboretum to inspire new plantings, mentoring, and community projects that promote gardening with nature.

—Susan Carpenter, native plant garden curator