Ecologist helping North American growers use their yards to help fight the climate crisis 🌻
Spring is here! Now what?
Hi friend,It’s finally officially spring after a long winter. It’s time to get back in the garden, but what should you be doing this time of year? Hold off on “garden cleanup”It can be tempting to want to make your garden look nice and tidy once the weather starts to warm up, but most regions should wait a bit to do this. Insects are still relying on dormant plant stems and leaf litter for shelter until low temperatures are consistently above 50°F If you have tall plant stems from last season that you’re worried might upset the lawn police, you can trim them, as long as you leave at least 8 inches. Once plants start growing back in for the season, these low stems will blend right in and continue to provide habitat for insects. Harden off seedlingsDepending on your region/climate, if you’ve already started seeds indoors, whether they’re vegetables or native flowers, you can start slowly acclimating them to the outdoor climate. Take your seedlings outside for a little bit each day, slowly increasing the amount of time over a week or two. This allows them to strengthen against wind, bright sunlight, changing temperatures, etc., that they weren’t used to in your house. If you’re growing vegetables, be sure to know your area’s last frost date before transplanting outside. Native plants are much more forgiving to changes in temperatures this time of year, but you don’t want to lose your veggies to a cold spell! If you haven’t already, start compostingComposting is a great way to improve soil quality, grow healthy plants, and reduce your waste! It’s always my #1 tip for growing a thriving garden. If you haven’t started composting yet, now is a great time. (Need help getting started? Check out my guide, The Composting Handbook) Identify and pull invasivesMany invasive plants start to sprout and foliate earlier than natives. That makes them easier to spot early in the spring before they might blend in with everything else. They can also be easier to pull and get rid of when they’re freshly growing and more fragile. Be sure to know what’s growing in your yard and identify species correctly. Need help with your yard this spring?I’m having a sale in my online shop right now through March 30th!Everything is 20% off with coupon code SPRING2026 That’s 20% off:
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Native Yardening
Ecologist helping North American growers use their yards to help fight the climate crisis 🌻
Hi friend, Let’s be real, at some point or another in your eco-garden journey you’re going to get stuck. Invasive plants you thought were gone sneak back in Your starter plants die before they get established Soil regeneration takes longer than you expected I’m here to tell you, that’s totally normal. In fact, these are badges of honor! It means you care, you’re trying, and you won’t give up. A lot of us seem to think success is a straight line with no mess ups, downswings, or...
Hi friend, Did you know that one of the most invasive trees in the eastern half of the United States was introduced on purpose by the US government? That’s right, the smelly Callery pear and its man-made cultivar the ‘Bradford’ pear were both cultivated intentionally by the US Department of Agriculture. Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana) is a tree that’s native to China and Vietnam and was first introduced to the US by the US Dept of Agriculture in 1916 to breed with the common European pear...
Hi friend, It was recently brought to my attention that not everyone knows that annual species can be just as invasive as perennials! While an individual annual plant only lives for one growing season, annuals are also prolific seed makers to ensure the species lives on. One plant can make thousands of seeds that spread across large areas and create colonies that are very much capable of outcompeting native plants and reducing biodiversity. Many of these invasive annuals also grow extensively...