Creating a garden with plants native to San Benito County adds
beauty and attracts wildlife
Gardening is good for the soul, or so it’s been said.
But what if it was possible to create a garden good not only for
the soul, but for birds, butterflies, bees and the very land it
sits on?
Creating a garden with plants native to San Benito County adds beauty and attracts wildlife
Gardening is good for the soul, or so it’s been said.
But what if it was possible to create a garden good not only for the soul, but for birds, butterflies, bees and the very land it sits on?
One of the most recent trends in home and business landscaping is native gardening, which strives to copy the natural plant communities of the region in which one lives. Native gardens are both practical and friendly to the environment, and an easy way to reverse the decline of birds and butterflies due to loss of habitat.
A native garden can be a very noisy place, filled with the sounds of hummingbirds, songbirds, butterflies and other native insects. These slightly less visible, but just as important creatures, are also attracted to native plants. California has almost 1,000 different species of bees and wasps, and they need nectar. This region, in particular, is noted for its diversity of bees. More species have been documented at Pinnacles National Monument than any other place in North America. A native garden is their perfect food source. And as the garden takes hold, small mammals, such as squirrels, return as well.
There are many reasons to go native. A native garden’s beauty is one – while a traditional gardening approach results in a sort of manicured, polished look, a native garden is freer, and can take on the gardener’s own personality. One of the best things about a native garden is its individuality. Even gardens using the same types of native grasses and flowers take on entirely different looks. Native gardens often feature bird houses, bird baths and benches, with the plants growing around them.
Native gardens generally cost less to create and once established, require less maintenance, according to Louise Lacey, author and editor of “Growing Native,” a series of articles published since 1990 on the Growing Native Web site. No real soil preparation is necessary, although weeds must be removed through pulling or burning. Because native plants have already adapted to the dry California climate, natives do not need fertilizer, do not need to be cultivated or pruned and require no irrigation once fully established, Lacey said.
Many traditional gardening practices include the use of a fertilizer not native to the area, as well as man-made herbicides and pesticides. These practices can destroy the very soil the garden grown on, Lacey said. When native plants are grown together in their own way, however, the soil regains its health. Even earthworms are happier in a native environment.
Designing a native garden can be a fun, rewarding experience, but does require some thought. For example, knowing what types of plants are native to the garden’s region is extremely important (San Benito County is located in the Central Oak Woodland region). Don’t take the traditional gardening approach of trying to landscape by color or texture. Instead, stick with plants from the region’s plant community as much as possible (although a few plants from a similar climate should do OK). Choosing plants from a wide range of local climates can cause growth problems and increased maintenance.
The next step is to think about the site of the garden. Designers at the Las Pilitas Nursery – a southern California nursery specializing in native gardening – ask prospective clients a series of questions when determining what will work in a particular native garden. These include some basic questions, such as what kind of soil does it have naturally? How much shade is there? Is it a windy spot? How much rain will that particular plot receive? How often will the garden need to be watered? How well does the soil drain – does it take a minute or less? How much time will be spent working in the garden each week? Is it a drought area? What kind of wildlife will the garden attract? What kind of mulch will work best? These same questions should be asked by those designing a native garden without professional help. After answering these questions, choose native plants that will thrive in the environment.
Once the plot is ready for plants, let nature help determine what will go where. A good strategy is to plant a particular plant community together. It costs less, will look better and ultimately mean less work, which equals more time to enjoy the garden. In a community, plants are arranged in discrete patterns. This occurs naturally in the wild – a native garden just follows the example. Natural planting allows the garden to take root faster. Consider the size of plants as well – how big will a shrub or tree be when it reaches full maturity? Put larger plants in the back, smaller grasses, flowering shrubs and ground cover in the front.
Although a native garden can be started at almost any time, late summer or early fall is the optimal planting season. Planting at this time allows the plants to take root during San Benito’s rainy months, and when spring rolls around, plants will be ready to flower.
There are many nurseries, landscape companies, Web sites and books specializing in native gardening. Spend a little time researching. Some nurseries, such as Sierra Azul in Watsonville, feature demonstration gardens to help its customers come up with ideas for their own gardens and provide a look at what plants will look like when they mature.
Ultimately, a native garden can look however the designer chooses, while sticking with plants which grow well in the area. It can be a quiet, restful place or a garden alive with the sounds of nature. Whether the design is a wildlife garden, herb garden or desert garden, the possibilities are endless. And, just possibly, it’s a design good for the soul as well.
