Building a Lush Native Garden

Want to have a lush look in the garden and also conserve water?

Start by building healthy and active biology in your soil. The microscopic organisms in soil not only give plants the nutrition they need to look lush and vigorous – without the need for chemical fertilizers – they promote deep roots that make plants drought-tolerant.

Building healthy soil biology is easy. Before planting, amend your soil with organic compost, worm castings, or granular humic acid. In addition, apply a two to three-inch layer of organic mulch over the bare soil. Good mulch choices include shredded bark, which is commercially available, or fresh tree trimmings chipped to two inches or smaller. Your local tree trimmer is a good source for these.

Keeping the soil covered by a mulch layer prevents evaporation, thus conserving water. As a plus, it also feeds the microscopic organisms that in turn feed the plants. That means that not only will you be able to dispense with fertilizer, but that weeding will be minimized.

Once plants are established, good soil health can be maintained by the application of aerated compost tea, which is a liquid extract made from compost. Replenish your mulch layer a few times a year, but don’t till the soil, simply top-dress around the base of the plant with compost or other soil amendments and water it in.

You’ll find you can get rid of the leaf blower; just let the fallen leaves stay to refresh the mulch layer.

We hope you’re as enthusiastic about a lush garden as we are.