Growing native plants in our yards adds beauty and creates habitats for wildlife, especially pollinators. Native plants are best adapted to our local growing season, climate and soils. Non-native plants may not provide pollinators like hummingbirds and bees high quality nectar or pollen or may be inedible to butterfly and moth caterpillars. In addition, native plants often need less water than ornamental/cultivar plants that might look similar.
HOW TO GET STARTED
There are many different ways to begin incorporating native plants into your landscape, from planting a few native species into existing garden areas, to preparing and planting large areas. Although there are resources available at the bottom of the page, here are some things to consider as you get started:
- Site Prep: If you are starting from scratch, you will need to prepare your planting site. Two common approaches are to remove sod (works well for smaller areas) or to spray existing grass and plants with an herbicide to ensure your new native plants or seeds are not competing with existing vegetation, especially noxious weeds or turf grass (more practical for large areas).
- Match plants to your landscape. Have a lot of full sun, or areas that are particularly wet? These factors will help determine plant choice. Some native plants get quite large or tall, or spread more. While you can always move or remove plants later, planning ahead will reduce the need to move plants later. Embrace variety and choose plants that bloom in different seasons which is known as succession.
- Plan your planting, paying attention to plant height, soil preference, sun exposure, and variety. Native plantings often look more tidy or appealing to the beginner when you group similar plants together in mass plantings. This can reduce the ‘messy’ feel of native plantings if you are uncomfortable with letting your garden be more natural and wild. It will also make weeding and plant identification easier.
- Find a source for native plants and seeds. Native plants from big box garden centers are often cultivars that differ in important functional ways from true natives and may have harmful chemicals. An example is a native such as purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) which would have the cultivar in single quotes, such as Echinacea purpurea ‘Pink Double Delight’. This is a cultivated variety not found in nature. Find a good native plant source/store and stick with it. They are often great sources of knowledge as well as plants.
- Think about how to define the space. Edging or fencing can do a lot to make a natural area look more intentional and separate from other areas of your landscaping.
- Find a native plant enthusiast or professional to look over your intended planting site. They can give you tips and advice, as well as ideas for which plants will work for your area.
NATIVE PLANT RESOURCES
There are many resources available for residents getting started with native plants.
Cost-Share Opportunities
Native Plant Suppliers
Local Resources
Reach out to a native plant enthusiast in our area or find examples of native plantings in Fergus Falls:
DO I NEED A PERMIT?
Yes, although in this case it is the Native Landscape Plan form. Although filling out the form to submit your Native Landscape Plan is free, according to City Code residents of Fergus Falls should submit the form below with details about location, timeline, and maintenance plans. The purpose of the Native Landscape Plan is to help you plan your site and to create a map of existing native/pollinator gardens within the city.
The definition of native vegetation according to Fergus Falls City Code Section 2. Chapter 6.23 (B) (2) (f) Native vegetation is hereby amended so as to read as follows:
(f) Native vegetation shall mean those indigenous trees, shrubs, wildflowers, flowering broadleaf plants, grasses and other plants that have naturally adapted themselves to the climate and soils of the area, and are commonly found in meadow and prairie plant communities, and are not weeds.
Please fill out the Native Planting Landscape Plan and submit to the Public Works Director
Native Planting Landscape Plan
