FAQs About Gardens, Plants & Plant Problems

NO! No, but seriously, good ecological garden design is an educated blend of of art and science and relies on an understanding of site conditions, as well as short and long range goals. Matching the right plant to the right place is essential to long range success and that matching can't happen over email or in a sales area over a cell phone photo that shows just a snapshot of what is happening in a space. We recommend that you explore the Planning Your Garden Page of our website where we have done our best to provide extensive resources and tools to help you research and plan. We are always happy to answer questions about plants and our experiences with them and are also happy to help you find a professional to assist with design if your project goes beyond your DIY ambitions!

Dig a hole just slightly largely than the plant's root ball. Be sure that the top of the plant is level with the ground - you don't want the plant set too low in the ground and you do not want the top sticking out of the ground. Do not add any soil amendments or other products, just put the dirt you dug out right back in. If the weather has been dry it is a good idea to water the planting hole and let water sink in before placing the plant. Then water again deeply once placed. Be sure to tamp the dirt in carefully around the plant, you want to make sure that you are not leaving any air pockets around the plant!

YES!! All plants will need watering until established. Hand watering is strongly recommended. Be careful to water the plant at the roots and not from above. Water deeply - for the first week you may need to water every day, after that every few days should be fine, but again you want to water deeply and check the soil to ensure it is not drying out too much. You will need to use some educated judgement here adjusting for weather conditions and soil type, it is not a one plant fits all strategy, which is one of the reasons why hand watering is recommended over irrigation systems.

All sales are final. We go to great lengths to ensure that the plants we sell are of top quality and in healthy condition ready to succeed in your garden. We strongly encourage you to research your choices well and to match plants to the conditions where you will be planting them. We are confident in our growers and in our plants, but they are living things that need proper care and that are susceptible to unusual or extreme weather events. Thank you for your understanding. If you are ever unclear about plant care instructions please reach out and check in with us! 

Celebrate that your new ecosystem is already supporting life! More than 95% of insects in our area are beneficial, let them do their jobs. READ MORE ABOUT THAT IN THE ARTICLE HERE. 

Nothing! The aphid eating good bugs won't show up unless there is something for them to eat. The best pest control is a healthy ecosystem - double down on building it - READ MORE ABOUT THAT IN THE ARTICLE HERE!

Deer are very regular visitors to our yard as well. We have watched many generations grow up here. As a result of deer pressure in the area we tend to plant only those plants that have decent resistance to deer browsing and ones that actually benefit from some trimming from herbivores (bush honeysuckle is one example). We do cage newly planted shrubs and small trees for the first few years to allow them to become well established. We do not use any sprays because of the impact that may have on the pollinators who use scent to find certain plants. The best advice we've ever read on this subject comes from Nancy Lawson "the Humane Gardener" - she says it all better than we ever could, so recommend you read "Deer Eat this Garden and it Flourishes". A quick "Google" search will unearth countless deer resistant plant lists, but be advised that no plant is truly deer proof. 

Our goal is to create thriving habitats at home. Habitats include animals of all sorts. We have bunnies hopping every which way here, but they don't bother the "garden" plants all that much, in large part because they are busy and content feasting on clover and lawn weeds! Our favorite, helpful, article on the subject of bunnies comes from Benjamin Vogt - we hope it helps! On Rabbits and Salad Bars in Suburbia. 

None

Compost and fallen leaves and other organic matter left to do its job. 

We personally plant densely enough that mulch is seldom needed. We also leave the leaves year-round and that is great free mulch! For the occasional time or place that mulch is needed we recommend and use Buckwheat Hulls.