New Hampshire Native Plants: Expert Tips for Gardening Success
New Hampshire’s native plants are a stunning and practical choice for local gardens. For gardening success, follow these expert tips:
- Analyze Your Garden: Assess your soil, sunlight, and moisture conditions. Select plants that will thrive in your specific environment.
- Create Diversity: Aim for a blend of trees, shrubs, perennials, and grasses. This not only adds visual interest but also supports a variety of wildlife.
- Trees: Consider Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) and White Pine (Pinus strobus). These trees are iconic to New Hampshire and provide excellent habitat for wildlife.
- Shrubs: American Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) and Lowbush Blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) provide beauty and value to wildlife.
- Perennials: Native wildflowers like Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum) and New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) attract pollinators and provide seasonal color.
- Groundcovers: Choose Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) or Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) for erosion control and ground cover.
- Adopt Sustainable Practices: Use compost for soil health, capture rainwater for irrigation, and avoid synthetic pesticides to maintain an eco-friendly space.
- Patience: Native gardens may take time to establish, but they will become self-sustaining with less upkeep over time.
- Use Local Resources: Leverage local nurseries, native plant societies, and cooperative extension services for advice and plants.
By embracing native New Hampshire plants, you’re enhancing biodiversity and creating a landscape that is not only beautiful but also beneficial to the local ecosystem. Happy gardening!
