How Does Your Natural Garden Grow?

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Laura Coit

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A wildflower meadow is a natural-style garden that can be grown in just about any region.

Are you one of those homeowners always trekking out to the forests and natural areas around your home, looking for new ideas for your back yard? If so, then a natural garden is probably for you. With a natural garden, you create a space that makes Mother Nature part of your every day life.

The funny thing about home gardens is how they evolved – as enclosed areas designed to prevent nature’s encroachment. Gardeners have labored long and hard to tame nature, but times are changing. As natural areas continue to disappear through urbanization, an increasing number of gardeners are inviting nature into their yards. This movement – called “natural gardening” – has three approaches:

Natural style

By embracing existing conditions and regional characteristics, natural-style gardens are designed to resemble naturally occurring sites – often nearby natural landscapes. These gardens are produced with regional themes (like meadow, woodland, desert or marsh), which are casual and asymmetrical. Structures and accents often use materials found in local surroundings, such as curved paths made of local gravel or mulch, and borders of fieldstone. While natural-style gardens are…well, a natural for country sites, they can work perfectly in the city and suburbs when designed right, too.

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Natural materials like this carved bench blend effortlessly into a wooded area and make for a relaxing place to reflect.

Native plant

These gardens only use plants that are native to a specific region to create beautiful settings that should be easy to maintain. Sometimes this style of gardening is more loosely defined to include cultivars and other plants native to a wider region but that are well-adapted to the specific area’s soil conditions and climate. These gardens often become havens for local birds and butterflies.

Environmentally friendly

Gardeners who care for their outdoor spaces in an environmentally friendly manner use organic methods rather than synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. It’s important to choose appropriate plants, improve the soil and learn about pests, diseases and their natural remedies in order to create a pesticide-free garden that is healthy for birds, butterflies, children and pets. Any style garden can be maintained this way, whether it’s natural in style, uses native plants or is a more traditional – even formal – landscape.

Facts

Some natural garden themes lend themselves to certain regions – like desert-, tropical- and coastal-themed gardens.
Preparing a site for natural planting may include amending the soil, terracing and building walls, adding irrigation and lighting systems, and installing paths and beds.

Tips

Take the time to observe your region’s natural areas and study them – from the tallest tree to the smallest groundcover. You’ll gain a better understanding of how the plants in your area interact, as well as help you blend your garden into the surrounding landscape.
When selecting your garden’s plants, look for those that reflect the beauty of the regional landscape and perform well under your local conditions.

Faqs

Q: What are some benefits of natural gardening?
A: In addition to bringing some of nature’s beauty to the back yard, you’re likely to use fewer resources to maintain your outdoor space. By simply selecting plants that do well in your region, you’ll cut down on fertilizer, irrigation and likely pesticide needs. Additionally, natural gardens often welcome all kinds of critters that are fun to watch and are helpful to the garden, including birds, bees and butterflies.

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Next Steps

Articles

From Coastal Gardens to the Deserts & Tropics (a Natural Geography Lesson)
The first step in creating a natural garden is to let Mother Nature be your guide. Is your home seaside? Think coastal garden. Live in an arid region? Look to the desert. And if your weather’s hot and steamy, embrace that tropical garden paradise. Learn how…
Planting the Right Cottage Garden or Meadow for You
If you think cottage gardens are just for New England and prairie meadows for the Midwest, take another look at natural gardening styles. These breathtaking garden themes can be adjusted to just about any area of the country, using native plants that work well in each region!
Creating a Woodland Garden
Turn your back yard into a natural-looking woodland escape – and preserve the beauty of native plants in the process.

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