So you’ve gotten the kit in the ground. Now what? Here’s how to approach caring for your native garden.
Water
Give your newly planted garden consistent water, a protective layer of mulch, and fencing if needed to help young plants establish and thrive. Read more to make sure your garden thrives.
When to water?
How much to water?
Please use the following as a general guideline. Observe your soils to understand if it is absorbing water. Keep in mind what type of soil you have and make sure all plants are reached with the sprinkler. Water should reach 5 inches into your soil and the type of soil you have will affect how long that takes.Watering without a sprinkler? You can water by hand- 5-10 seconds per plant
Watering Timeline
Year 1
Once/ Week (After first month)
Year 2
Once/ Month
Year 3
No watering needed
When to start? When to stop?
At the beginning and end of growing season. In Southeast Michigan/Zone 6A, that is mid May to late October. Look at your local zone. Outside of the growing season you will not need to water.
Trees and Shrubs
Trees and shrubs require deeper watering. Pay attention to runoff and how the water is being absorbed. Hand-water with a hose for about 30 seconds (give or take) with a hose 1-2 times per week for the first year, depending on soil type.
Best time of day to water?
Morning or evening
Mulch
Why do I need to mulch?
In addition to helping retain soil moisture, mulch reduces bare soil exposure, which limits unwanted seed germination and suppresses weed growth. Please keep in mind that Adapt does not provide mulch for garden recipients. Recipients need to supply the mulch.
Amount:
2-3 inches
Type:
Hardwood, not dyed
Fence
Why fence my newly planted garden?
To protect it from critters, deer, and pets. Adapt does not supply fencing.
What are some fencing options?
Chicken wire + bamboo stakes
Fishing wire + metal stakes
Deer fence + metal stakes
Edge
Cut a clean, vertical edge along the lawn side of your bed. This straight cut keeps turf grasses from creeping into the garden and creates a crisp, defined line. On the garden side, slope the soil slightly downward to form a soft bevel. This helps hold mulch in place and gives the bed a clear, intentional shape.
A sharp edge does two things: it protects your plants from invading lawn grasses and gives the whole space a clean, finished look. Edging is a great workout. We recommend doing this when the ground is wet and with a sharp square edge spade or half moon edger. If you need more guidance please check out our video showing how.
How to keep the edge?
Take a garden hoe to the edge of the bed a couple times per season. Run it along the entire edge of the bed.Try as best you can to keep the edge free of debris throughout the seasons.
You can also get creative with your edge. Add rocks, logs, or other natural borders to give the bed more character — just keep in mind that added materials often mean a bit more maintenance as grass and weeds find their way in.
A hedge trimmer or string trimmer is helpful for keeping the lawn side neat and defined throughout the season.
Weed
You can weed plants that are growing where you don’t want them. Before pulling, take a moment to notice what was intentionally planted and what may be volunteering. Young native plants can sometimes look similar to common weeds so be careful, look at spacing, and work on your identification skills. It might not be invasive, but if you didn’t plant it there and don’t want it there, it’s okay to pull it. If it is invasive, definitely get it out of there.
Edit
Deadheading & Managing Aggressive Seeders
Some species spread quickly by seed. If a plant is taking over an area more than you’d like, deadhead (remove) spent blooms before they go to seed to help slow its spread. Strategic editing like this allows you to guide the balance of your garden over time.
You can also refer to our YouTube instructional videos for step-by-step guidance if an aggressive species needs more attention.
Seed Collection & Spreading
If you’d like a particular species to fill in a new or sparse area, you can collect mature seeds and gently scatter them where you’d like more growth. Lightly press seeds into the soil and allow natural seasonal cycles to do the rest. Over time, this helps your garden knit itself together in a way that feels full and resilient. You can also transplant your native plants. Here’s a video showing how easy it can be.