Gardening with non-invasive plants

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu

Gardening season is here and after two years in my home I feel motivated to put some time into planting beyond the vegetable garden. But I’m pretty intimidated by all the options. What should I plant? Where should I plant it? Where can I buy it? Will it survive the winter? Will the deer eat it? How tall will it grow? However, I have found some good resources for selecting native and non-invasive plants and preparing the landscape for them to thrive. Simply getting started by trying something out will go a long way to making progress.

Why plant native species? Plants native to a region are, by nature, not invasive, and while you may see them spreading within your garden, they won’t become problematic for the surrounding environment. Planting native species will provide greater benefits for wildlife and native pollinators and won’t need as much fertilizer or water as they tend to have robust root systems. Also, it turns out they are pretty competitive and can result in a beautiful landscape that changes throughout the season. A landscape planted with native plants can either be left alone to do its thing for a natural look, or you can spend more time gardening for a curated or manicured look. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture has further information on gardening with non-invasive plants.