What is a native plant?

A plant species is considered ‘native’ if it has been present in a certain place for thousands of years. Native plants evolved to have adaptations for their natural habitat, and in many cases they provide important food for other native insects, birds, and other wildlife.

What is an invasive plant?

An invasive plant is a non-native plant that was introduced in one way or another to a new place outside of its natural and historical range. A plant is deemed invasive (this can be a legal term) when it is found to escape captivity, expand into wild areas, and outcompete native vegetation. Examples in the northeastern US include japanese knotweed, garlic mustard, bush honeysuckle, phragmites, and buckthorn. Some invasive plants are able to alter abiotic conditions to make a site uninhabitable after infestation, so that removing the plants alone is not enough to rehabilitate a site. 

Aren’t native plant gardens messy looking?

Some are, yep! Just like any conventional garden, they can take on many forms. However - a native plant garden that is properly designed can have a sense of order and beauty that a wildflower seed mix (for example) will not provide. The native plant and natural garden movement have been around for many years. Choosing to plant native and design gardens in tune with your ecological landscape is quite sophisticated and modern. Gardens designed by Piet Oudolf, Larry Weaner, Benjamin Vogt, and others are good examples of what natural garden design can look like.

Do you build retaining walls and paver paths?

While we are happy to chat about hardscape design during our site visit, it just isn’t our specialty! We will work with you and any contractors you may hire to to stonework, deck-building, etc. and will happily return when you are ready for plant materials.

Do you only use native plants?

Our goal at Sedge & Soil is to carefully select native plants that will provide the biggest habitat impact on any given property. Native plants are our speciality and we select straight-species, ecoregionally-appropriate plants for all of our installations. However, if a client has a specific desire for a fruit tree or other ornamental woody plant, we will work to find a specimen that 1) works with the site and 2) has no invasive status or other characteristic that makes it a bad fit for a natural garden design.

I live in an urban/suburban neighborhood, why should I plant native?

It may feel like your neighborhood is devoid of wildlife right now. Maybe none of your neighbors garden, or if they do it’s a lot of lawn and hostas, and no one has seen a bumblebee in years. That’s ok! This is exactly where we need native plants the most. Beneficial insects (bees, butterflies, spiders, etc) move into sites WAY faster than you can imagine. Birds like juncos, finches, and cedar waxwings will show up to feast on seeds and berries from your new plants. If you build it, they will come, and you will find joy as you watch new bugs and birds show up for the smorgasbord you build them.

I don’t know if any of the plants in my yard are invasive. How can I figure this out?

This is something we really want to help with! In addition to giving us a call to set up a site visit, you could try to identify the plants yourself. Plant ID apps for the phone have come a long way. I recommend Seek (by iNaturalist) - you can take photos of the plant with the app, and it will give you some basic information like native/non-native status, and will provide links for further information. With any app, it is always a good idea to double check the plant ID with other online sources or (ideally) a plant identification book.