How to Landscape With Native Plants in Wisconsin
Wisconsin boasts a diverse landscape due to historic glaciation including lush woodlands, cool lakes, tall grass prairie and oak savannah. Though much of the original prairie was converted to farm, prairie plants and other indigenous flowers and grasses offer many landscaping options for the novice gardener and professional landscaper alike. Landscaping with native plants increases survival rates, attracts wildlife and reduces risk of disease in plants. This article focuses on landscaping an open sunny area and a semi-shaded woodland area. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Determine your planting zone. Wisconsin includes planting zones 3 to 5. Look at a USDA plant hardiness zone map to determine your zone. You will need to select plants that thrive in your zone, once you determine your landscaping needs. For example, Coneflower, which tolerates sun or partial shade, is hardy to zone 4. Maidenhair fern, which thrives in shade, is hardy to zone 3.
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Draw up a general landscape plan for your yard or garden using graph paper and a pencil. Sketch to scale existing structures and trees including canopy area. Then mark areas to landscape, drawing in large, curved beds for a natural look. Draw in paths between the beds.
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Determine the total area to be planting based on the scale of your other drawings. Outline this area in your yard or planting area using a hose or twine. Adjust if necessary.
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Plant sunny areas with native prairie plants. Purchase three or four different flowers such as Butterfly Weed, Brown-eyed Susan, Purple Coneflower and Coriopsis. Plant native grasses such as Prairie Dropseed and Little Bluestem among the flowers. Buy well-established plants in a 1/2 gallon container), plant odd numbers (at least three) of each type of plant and clump some of them for a more natural look. Plant each flower at least 18 inches apart in a hole slightly bigger than the root ball. Fill each hole with compost to help the plants get nutrients.
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Semi-shaded woodland lots offer a beautiful mix of trees, shrubs and flowers. Native trees such as Sugar Maple, Ash and Birch have beautiful foliage and bark. Birch can be planted in a clump. Plant a mix of four or five woodland flowers under the trees' canopy. Choose from Columbine, Sky Blue Aster, Jack in the Pulpit, Wild Geranium, Foamflower, Purple Coneflower or Ohio Spiderwort. Dig and loosen the soil in the planting area and plant each seedling in a hole slightly larger than the root ball. Fill each hole with compost.
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Once you have finished planting, water the plants well, soaking the soil. Mulch soil after watering using composted leaves or wood chips to help retain water and prevent erosion. Paths between beds can be mulched using bark pieces as well. Keep the plants well watered throughout their first growing season and heavily mulched over the first winter. Cut perennial flowers to the ground each fall after they are done blooming.
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Tips & Warnings
Look around at natural areas to find pleasing combinations of flowers, grasses and shrubs.
Establish natural transition areas between beds or types of landscaping areas such as woodland and prairie, again looking at natural areas for guidance.
Be patient; it takes at least two years for plants to become well-established. You can always move, transplant or divide flowers as the plants take root.
