Now is the time!
To borrow a phrase, "Fall is for Planting." Now until the first freeze is the best time to plant those trees, shrubs and hardy perennials that can turn your yard into your own personal retreat and help keep harmful runoff from our streams.
Planting Happiness in
your own backyard
When you Plant More Plants in your yard, you create a relaxing retreat from today's concrete jungles and make your yard more enjoyable for everyone - including the environment.
Why now?
Planting now gives trees and shrubs nine months for roots to develop and grow before they have to face the harsh heat and potential drought of summer. Fall soils are warm enough to promote root growth, and there is less need to water. Fall is the ideal time to Plant More Plants.
Let's get started
Plant More Plants has the resources you need to make your yard the envy of the neighborhood.
Get started here with links to:
native plant landscape plans
nearby garden centers
local landscape professionals
helpful websites
let's get our hands dirty,
and the Bay clean
Trees, shrubs and hardy perennials can beautify your home and help reduce runoff. Use plants that are adjusted to local growing conditions. Consider native plants. They are typically more resistant to insects and disease and use less water and fertilizer. That means less maintenance for you!
Here are a few planting pointers you're sure to dig:
Know your site and plant to the existing site conditions. Check the sun exposure, soil moisture and soil type where you plan to plant, and choose plants that will grow and thrive in these conditions.
Consider plants native to your region of the state. Along with planting to the existing site conditions, use locally native plants. Find a list here. Also, make sure to avoid invasive species.
Choose a habitat type. Try to create or emulate a specific habitat, like woods, wetland or meadow, and choose plants that are appropriate to both your site and habitat.grow some good
The easiest way to keep your lawn looking beautiful and your plants healthy is to keep it natural. By matching similar plants with their preferred soil, sunlight, moisture and other requirements, and planting them in natural site conditions, your newly planted landscapes will do a great job of approximating a natural habitat. This ensures that your plants will grow to their potential and keep your yard looking gorgeous and your neighbors jealous.
Here are a few simple tips to get you started:
Plant in groups. Instead of isolating plantings, such as a tree in the middle of the lawn, group trees, shrubs and perennials to create layers of vegetation.
Prepare the soil. Begin with deep spading, plowing, or rototilling-to a depth of six inches-to break up compacted soil and allow roots to grow deeper.
Download tip sheets for:• Mowing (237k PDF)
• Fertilizing (245k PDF)
• Mulching (227k PDF)
• A Virginian's Year Round Guide to Yard Care (9.7 MB PDF)
we're digging change
A healthier Bay means a safer environment for us all to enjoy for years to come.
Today, water quality in the Bay remains extremely poor because of nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment pollution caused by stormwater runoff.
To help change this, the flow of pollution must continue to be reduced. That's why we need to PLANT MORE PLANTS.
The Power of Plants
Reduce RunoffLimit ErosionImprove Water Qualityin the Chesapeake Bay