Milkweed Bug on Common Milkweed
Monarch on New England Aster
Best pracTices
Research. Not all plants are suitable for your space. Some native plants are aggressive, quickly out-competing less aggressive species. Other native plants are too tall, wide, or unruly for tight spaces or more conservative (e.g. front-facing) plantings.
Plan. Consider using a notebook and colored pencils to plan your garden. Choose (and sketch) plant combinations, 2-3 different species that will bloom at the same time and compliment each other. Choose around 5 plants of each species and repeat the combination several more times.
Most plugs should be planted 6 inches apart. Such minimal spacing encourages healthy competition, mimicking natural plant communities. Healthy competition encourages deeper roots and more upright stems, effectively preventing plants from falling over. It also provides neighboring stems with structural support, further preventing plants from flopping over.
Install. Spring, early summer, and fall are good times to plant.
