Plant Now!

January 2013.  The lawn was killed, the pots...
are ready!

Don't wait till Spring to plant your natives.  Plant now!  You have four or five good growing months before summer dormancy sets in.  You want your jewels to be well established before their first dry season.

Yes, you can plant them in May and keep them alive all summer, if you live close to the coast and water diligently– but not enough to rot them– a fine line. By November they may look as good as when you first planted them.  Planting and watering are the two things that people mess up with native plants. Plant now.  (Or before mid-March, for sure.)

If you have been planning to kill your lawn and start from scratch, better start now.  If your ambitions are more modest, or you know yourself better... start small.  Dedicate a bare plot that doesn't get hit by the sprinklers and pick a treasure or three to plant.  (Describe your spot and I'll suggest a plant.)  In the meantime you can follow this blog, visit plant nurseries and gardens, and plot your slice of wild for next Fall.

January 2015.  Happy plants beginning Year Three.

Your garden does not need to be expensive.  Most natives do better when planted small, from one-gallon pots that run $7-10 at native nurseries.  You don't need to install a watering system because watering systems don't work well for natives.  Watering will be infrequent (every two weeks to monthly when established) and just when your plants need it.   Yes, this requires a bit of your attention, but every nice garden does.  If you want a no-attention garden, there are a few natives that will take summer water as well as drought. Happy gardening!

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