Wexner Medical Center Green Team Native Plant, Shrub and Tree Giveaway
Planting Native Perennials Instructions
(For tree planting instructions, visit our webpage here)
If you recently received a free native perennial plant from a plant giveaway, you might be asking yourself what to do with it next. Of course, you know you need to plant and water it, but a single plant can quickly turn into a new garden project!
The very first place to start is to determine if your new plant requires full sun, partial sun, or full shade. A list of the plants that were handed out during the Native Plant Giveaway is listed below, along with links that contain important growing information about each one, including light requirements, the amount of water they prefer, and how big they get. Many of the plants handed out at this event prefer full sun and well-drained soil.
Then, determine where in your yard would be suitable for the requirements of the plant. If you do not have an existing garden bed suitable for the plant, you will need these instructions on preparing a perennial garden by Clemson University.
When planting, placing the plant in a hole at the same depth as when it was in the container is important. If the plant is root-bound, make sure you free the root system by gently pulling it apart. Once the backfill soil is added, water the plant thoroughly. Additional water may be needed during the growing season until plants are well established. A two inch mulch layer of shredded leaves, shredded bark, or compost will help conserve water.
A special thank you to Natives in Harmony for the native perennial plants and Alpha Nurseries for the shrubs and trees.
List of Plants and Growing Information
Intersted in more resources? Check out this amazing collection of materials on the Native Plants for Pollinators website from the OSU Bee Lab.