Learn About Native Plant Gardening
A big HELLO to all you ‘patcher’s out there, it is an honor and a privilege to be a part of this community.
My name is Louise Schaefer. Along with my business partner Sue Tantsits, we founded Edge of the Woods Native Plant Nursery, located in the Fogelsville area. This is our tenth season in business.
We hope to post here through the growing season about ways you can incorporate native plants into your landscape no matter how big or small.
Why are native plants important?
Native plants play an important role in our local ecosystem; they do a job that can’t be done by just any plant, providing habitat for wildlife, bees, insects, bugs, birds, butterflies and small mammals.
They are also beautiful to look at through the seasons, and provide entertainment too! We love looking out the window at all the birds and insects that flit and float in and out of our native plantings.
Please let us know your questions about native plants, we’re looking forward to a growing conversation with you.
Chuck
7:19 pm on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Looking for a good groundcover for a shady hillside - something that will cover quickly.
Louise Schaefer
7:45 pm on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
white wood aster fills in very quickly after the first season... it spreads by seed and fills in nicely. There are so many great native shade plants, its good to plant a diversity of species.
Ron Beitler
9:23 pm on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Will white wood aster compete with Garlic mustard? Got a bank... shady... 'infested' with garlic mustard and has some walnut trees to boot..... tough spot.
Louise Schaefer
6:37 am on Thursday, April 26, 2012
there are lists of plants that tolerate juglans....but experience varies widely. Best to start small and see what works. Asters generally appear on the list. Nothing will choke out the garlic mustard, but I have feeling white wood asters may intersperse among it. Handpulling it in small sections as you replant with natives will help.
Louise Schaefer
7:25 pm on Saturday, April 28, 2012
Here's the official scoop on garlic mustard, from http://www.invasive.org/eastern/midatlantic/alpe.html
"Because garlic mustard seeds can survive for five or more years in the soil, effective management of garlic mustard requires a long-term commitment. Hand removal of entire plants, including the roots, is effective for light, scattered infestations. Cutting flowering plants low to the ground in spring will prevent flowering and thus seed production. Careful hand removal and bagging of plants with mature fruits can be done from June through August. Several herbicides are also effective for its control. Researchers are investigating the potential for biological control of garlic mustard."
matt
5:00 am on Monday, April 30, 2012
i need some native color for a full-sun spot outside of my vegetable garden. would prefer something with a little height to it. got anything for me??
Louise Schaefer
5:58 am on Monday, April 30, 2012
coneflower, garden phlox, new england aster, joe pye, smooth aster, false sunflower...there are many many choices.