Managing Native Plant Landscapes

This manual provides information on managing native plant landscapes and highlights the benefits, challenges, and requirements for sites located in the Piedmont region of NC.

Click the photo to download the manual (.pdf)

It offers a starting point and is not a complete how-to guide. It will be useful for homeowners, home-owner associations (HOAs), public schools, public parks, municipalities, and large commercial sites that have suitable open space for a more environmentally friendly purpose, and contractors who want to broaden their landscape experience.

A successful project includes a planning & design process, installation and good understanding of the long-term management.

A sustainable landscape design that supports wildlife includes a plan and plant choices based on the site, proper installation with careful attention to soil preparation, and knowledge about how the plants are best managed.

This manual was made possible through a grant by Burt’s Bees Foundation and Keep Durham Beautiful.

It reflects the collaborative efforts of the writing/editing team of Laurie Mettam, Lauri Lawson, Barbara Driscoll (New Hope Bird Alliance) guided by local native plant horticultural landscapers Alan Johnson (Alan Johnson Landscapes) and Ben Bergmann (Horticulturist for City of Durham).

Left: Piedmont Prairie Garden at Rotary Plaza, Durham by Ben Bergmann. Right: Pocket Prairie Project by Bloomquist Garden of Native Plants by Maegan Luckett.