5 Tips for Starting a Native Landscape

Thinking about starting a native garden this spring, but not sure where to begin?

Native landscaping doesn’t have to mean an extravagant, full-yard transformation. With intentional steps—and some support—you can create a habitat that benefits pollinators, protects water quality, and brings new life to your outdoor space!

Here are five tips to help you get started.

1. Identify Your Goals

What do you picture when you think of native plantings on your property? 

A full, wild prairie? A well-manicured landscape? Garden beds, filled with flowers?

Are you hoping to:

• Attract pollinators or birds?
• Reduce mowing or maintenance?
• Improve water infiltration or reduce runoff?
• Replace part of your lawn with something more resilient?

Your goals should shape the steps you take—from plant selection to layout and long-term care. Whether you envision a small garden bed or dream big with a full prairie conversion, identifying your goals helps ensure your native planting is both successful and rewarding.

Native landscapes can be practical, beautiful, and powerful tools for conservation—and you can design them to fit your vision and your property!

2. Start Small

Regardless of what your goals may be, start small.

Local native plant expert Cidy Gackenheimer says, “A simple 5×5 garden can help bees and pollinators greatly.” She also emphasises that native planting isn’t as intimidating as it may seem: “After the first year, it takes very little maintenance—just thinning when necessary.”

You don’t need to transform your entire lawn at once! Any amount of native plants is enough to have a great impact, benefit the bees and pollinators greatly, reduce lawn maintenance needs, and improve water infiltration. 

3. Put the Right Plant in the Right Place

Successful native gardens, landscapes, and prairies begin with the right plant in the right place. Observe how much sun or shade an area receives and whether the soil tends to be dry, average, or wet.

When native plants are well-suited to their conditions, they thrive with less effort, require less maintenance, and provide better habitat.

Here are a few examples of common growing conditions and the types of native plants that thrive in them:

Full Sun

Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)

Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

Blazing Star (Liatris spp.)

Lance-Leaf Coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata)

Goldenrod (Solidago rigida, S. canadensis)

Prairie Gaillardia (Gaillardia pulchella)

Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)

Prairie Dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis)

Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii)

Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans)

Serviceberry (Amelanchier laevis / canadensis)

Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina)

New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus)

Partial Shade

Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum)

Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)

Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica)

Wood Phlox (Phlox divaricata)

Jacob’s Ladder (Polemonium reptans)

Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia)

Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense)

Pennsylvania Sedge (Carex pensylvanica)

Cinnamon Fern (Osmunda cinnamomea)

Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris)

Spicebush (Lindera benzoin)

Black Raspberry (Rubus occidentalis)

Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia)

Wet Soil

Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)

Great Blue Lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica)

Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)

Turtlehead (Chelone glabra)

Queen-of-the-Prairie (Filipendula rubra)

Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum)

Giant Bur-reed (Sparganium eurycarpum)

Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)

Winterberry Holly (Ilex verticillata)

Red-Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea)

Dry Soil / Drought Tolerant

Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)

Blazing Star (Liatris spp.)

Prairie Coneflower

Purple Poppy Mallow / Winecup (Callirhoe spp.)

Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)

Prairie Dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis)

Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii)

New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus)

Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.)

Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa)

Looking for more help choosing the best native plants for your space? The Indiana Native Plant Finder is a great place to start. This free, easy-to-use database allows you to explore native Indiana plants and learn which ones are best suited for specific light, soil, and moisture conditions. You can even learn which pollinators your plants will attract!

Choosing plants that fit your site not only make make native gardening easier—it helps native plants do what they do best: thrive naturally, protect water quality, pollinators and more.

4. Embrace a Little Wildness

A little “messiness” is often a sign of a healthy, diverse landscape. Texture, variety, and seasonal change are all part of the beauty—and they create valuable habitat for birds, pollinators, and other wildlife.

Native gardens may look different from traditional landscapes, especially in the first year. As they establish their roots, the plant’s growth stages follow a three year trend of  Sleep, Creep, Leap.

The first year after planting, the plants often focus on building strong root systems before showing much growth above ground.

 The next year, with a better root system, the plant starts to show more significant growth. You’ll notice more foliage and perhaps some flowers, as the plant begins to spread and fill in. 

Finally, in their third year The plant reaches its mature size and potential. It bursts with abundant blooms and foliage, showcasing its full vigor and beauty. 

Keep this native plant process in mind as you embark on your lawn conversion journey and embrace the natural beauty!

5. Learn From Others: Attend our Beyond Lawns Workshop

One of the best ways to gain confidence is to learn from people who’ve already made the transition. TWF’s Beyond Lawns Workshop is designed for anyone curious about native landscaping—whether you’re just getting started or ready to expand.

At this free workshop, you’ll:

• Discover the many benefits of native plants
  
• Learn how to transform your lawn or garden into a thriving native habitat that saves money, supports wildlife, and protects water quality
  
• Connect with resources to inspire and support your native plant projects
  
• Get details about TWF’s Beyond Lawns Initiative, which provides technical and grant assistance for lawn conversion projects on properties of any size
  

Every Native Planting is a Step Forward

It all adds up! One step at a time, you can create healthier habitats for pollinators and birds, improve water quality, and build a more resilient landscape.

But you don’t have to do it alone— The Watershed Foundation is here to support landowners with technical and grant assistance as they start their native plant journey!

This spring, take that first step and let native plants do what they do best: thrive naturally and protect water and wildlife.