Restore Your Backyard to Native Glory
A native plant backyard is the ultimate low-maintenance, high-impact garden — deep-rooted plants that never need watering once established.
Why it works
Backyards provide the space for native plantings to reach their full ecological potential. A 500-square-foot native bed supports an entire food web. Native plants evolved to match your local rainfall, soil type, and temperature extremes, so once established they require zero supplemental irrigation.
How to achieve this look
Map your backyard microclimates. Remove turf through solarization or smothering. Plant in ecological guilds: canopy trees (serviceberry, redbud), understory shrubs (winterberry, elderberry, spicebush), and ground-layer grasses and wildflowers. Use native groundcovers instead of mulch in shaded areas.
Photograph your backyard and Arden overlays a multi-layered native planting that matches your specific conditions.
"I redesigned my entire backyard before buying a single plant. Saved me from so many mistakes."
-- Sarah M.
Domande Frequenti
Q1 Will a native backyard look wild and unkempt?
Only if you want it to. Defined bed edges, repeated plant groupings, and a mowed lawn border between beds create a designed look.
Q2 Where do I find native plants for my region?
Native plant nurseries, local botanical garden sales, and state native plant society sales are the best sources.
Q3 How do I control invasive species in a native garden?
Scout regularly and remove invasives by hand before they seed. Dense native plantings naturally outcompete weeds once established.