I have a lawn of native plants, no toxins or even water. I have added clover for bees, but there are other blooming plants that flower between mowings.
We'd love to see a picture of your lawn! If you can please send a photo to contact@sagmoraine.org. This is a topic that lots of people ask about and we'd love to have more examples to show!
The challenges I face as a landscape designer is trying to utilize evergreens in the landscape, but there really aren't a whole lot of dwarf evergreen native shrubs that can handle full sun. I live in upstate SC so we have a good climate for lots of great native plants, but my clients are generally wanting evergreens especially on foundation plantings. Thankfully most of my clients who are good with mostly natives are fine with deciduous plants.
Thanks for your comment! Have you used Ilex glabra or Inkberry? That is one of our favorite native evergreen shrubs and a great substitute for boxwood.
@@sagmorainenativeplantcommunity I have, I just find holly bushes to be bland and boring, also its really hard to find a true male pollinator. I've utilized vaccinium darrowii 'Rosa's blush' and viburnum obovatum 'Mrs. Schiller's delight' and also while not the best for ecological value thuja occidentalis 'Fire Chief' I just wish plants like Itea, Clethra, Ceonathus, and Aronia were evergreen or more appealing to today's urban homeowner. I really wish people would just be fine with plants that are bare for 3 months out of the year. They seem to love hydrangeas but only because they bloom consistently throughout the summer and in nice bright colors.
It is true that we are really limited in evergreen native shrubs other than junipers. I have found I don't miss the green when I add color with red twig dogwood or little bluestem grass. We try to ask people to add some native plants to their landscape. If they want to keep some evergreen shrubs that aren't native, that's ok as long as they aren't invasive. They do provide great cover for birds.
Need something like this for summer and fall, to help start seeds now so they can put on some growth before winter and winter sow those seeds that need to be cold moist stratified.
Oh my gosh!!! I’m so excited to have Stumbled onto this! I’ve looked into this a bit but have been too busy with other projects. I’m really psyched you are in the Chicagoland area. I have locations in Elmhurst and Villa Park and I’ve been wanting to convert the lawns. Grass makes no sense but I haven’t managed to do the research yet. I just watched another video from a group out of the area and was wishing I could find someone around here to help guide me through this process.. as it may take a bit of time to do the full research needed and finding a local place would make it much easier! I’ll definitely join the community and look into what kind of guidance you offer or if you are for hire in any way. Thank you so much! 🌲❤
Q? Off topic.. I'm putting in wooded raised beds, there will be 4. I want paths that will not be grass.. we are thinking stone. Any thoughts on garden paths and how they impact the space?
Another great question! In between the beds you have several options. You could try small gravel, natural uncolored wood mulch, straw, or even a sun loving moss.
I'm sorry this happened to both of you and to the iron weed. We need to educate people about how important our native plants are, and how deadly weed killer is.
Nicely done and very important for the future of biodiversity.
Thank you for watching and helping to spread the word about the importance of native plants!
Thank you!!
You're welcome!
I have a lawn of native plants, no toxins or even water. I have added clover for bees, but there are other blooming plants that flower between mowings.
We'd love to see a picture of your lawn! If you can please send a photo to contact@sagmoraine.org. This is a topic that lots of people ask about and we'd love to have more examples to show!
Thank you for this!
Glad it was helpful!
Excellent presentation, thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it!
The challenges I face as a landscape designer is trying to utilize evergreens in the landscape, but there really aren't a whole lot of dwarf evergreen native shrubs that can handle full sun.
I live in upstate SC so we have a good climate for lots of great native plants, but my clients are generally wanting evergreens especially on foundation plantings.
Thankfully most of my clients who are good with mostly natives are fine with deciduous plants.
Thanks for your comment! Have you used Ilex glabra or Inkberry? That is one of our favorite native evergreen shrubs and a great substitute for boxwood.
@@sagmorainenativeplantcommunity I have, I just find holly bushes to be bland and boring, also its really hard to find a true male pollinator. I've utilized vaccinium darrowii 'Rosa's blush' and viburnum obovatum 'Mrs. Schiller's delight' and also while not the best for ecological value thuja occidentalis 'Fire Chief'
I just wish plants like Itea, Clethra, Ceonathus, and Aronia were evergreen or more appealing to today's urban homeowner.
I really wish people would just be fine with plants that are bare for 3 months out of the year. They seem to love hydrangeas but only because they bloom consistently throughout the summer and in nice bright colors.
It is true that we are really limited in evergreen native shrubs other than junipers. I have found I don't miss the green when I add color with red twig dogwood or little bluestem grass. We try to ask people to add some native plants to their landscape. If they want to keep some evergreen shrubs that aren't native, that's ok as long as they aren't invasive. They do provide great cover for birds.
Need something like this for summer and fall, to help start seeds now so they can put on some growth before winter and winter sow those seeds that need to be cold moist stratified.
Great idea!
Oh my gosh!!! I’m so excited to have Stumbled onto this! I’ve looked into this a bit but have been too busy with other projects. I’m really psyched you are in the Chicagoland area. I have locations in Elmhurst and Villa Park and I’ve been wanting to convert the lawns. Grass makes no sense but I haven’t managed to do the research yet. I just watched another video from a group out of the area and was wishing I could find someone around here to help guide me through this process.. as it may take a bit of time to do the full research needed and finding a local place would make it much easier! I’ll definitely join the community and look into what kind of guidance you offer or if you are for hire in any way. Thank you so much! 🌲❤
Thank you, Deborah! I am so glad you are interested in converting your lawn to native plants. I hope we can assist you in your project!
Q? Off topic.. I'm putting in wooded raised beds, there will be 4. I want paths that will not be grass..
we are thinking stone. Any thoughts on garden paths and how they impact the space?
Another great question! In between the beds you have several options. You could try small gravel, natural uncolored wood mulch, straw, or even a sun loving moss.
We have big back yards no fences, one back two older neighbors want a sterile environment.. not on my Watch😉
Good for you! I have a neighbor who is all concrete, lawn, and white rock too.
I put a iron weed bush in my back yard and it looked like someone used weed killer on it last year😏😔
Same for some of mine. The person across the street was using weed killer in the heat. It vaporized and drifted.
I'm sorry this happened to both of you and to the iron weed. We need to educate people about how important our native plants are, and how deadly weed killer is.
Great info!
FOILage 😭
Thank you!
it'd been easier to put in a planting zone range. thanks
5b NE Illinois