How To Transform Your Garden Into A Natural Paradise In Less Than A Year

Whatever paradise means to you, it can't be a destination where nothing ever changes. Growth and improvement are baked into our very conception of perfection, and so it is with any garden paradise. If you're determined to transform your garden into a more natural, native landscape — whether you're starting with an ordinary suburban lawn or a very formal English-style garden — sometimes the real beauty is in the journey. We spoke exclusively with Tiffany Selvey, House Digest's Garden Editor and in-house Master Gardener, about how to accomplish a natural garden transformation. She revealed some truths about change in the garden — and how those changes should leave room for even more discovery.

Understanding the journey you're about to undertake isn't about reducing your expectations; it's about gaining a patient perspective. "Your space can still be a paradise after the first year, but it won't reach peak fullness until around year three," Selvey said, "This is when many of the plants will reach maturity. Luckily, it's a true joy to watch that evolution." And that evolution is the key; if things weren't going to grow and evolve, you'd be planting plastic flowers — a far cry from the native garden of your dreams. "Although you can make a tremendous difference in your garden space in just a year, it's going to keep growing and changing," Selvey said. 

Time and space are necessary for a flourishing natural garden, but planning is also important. With the right resources for getting started in native gardening, planning for growth will be a snap and may become easier as you progress. After all, the many disadvantages of growing non-native plants will disappear as your new garden gets established.

There's an old saying that a journey of a thousand miles begins with budgeting for your bus ticket, or something like that. The point is that any successful big accomplishment must consist of several necessary small things done well and in the correct order. When we talked exclusively with our garden editor, Tiffany Selvey, about creating a garden paradise in one year, she emphasized that the first part of planning is knowing what you're dealing with. "Any time you're planning big changes for a garden, the first step is getting a soil test," she explained. "This will tell you if your existing conditions are ideal for the plants you want to grow." While native plants and wildflowers might be less demanding than the plants you're used to, if your soil test shows that your soil is more or less rich, you'll want to choose plants accordingly. And if it's already rich in nutrients, there's no need to add fertilizer for plants that don't need it — leaving more room in your budget for other things.

Planning and research come next. "Find out what plants are native in your region and set your priorities," Selvey said. Plan your color palette and map out your growing conditions in terms of sun and shade, soil types, water needs, and more. Then choose natives that will fit your requirements and preferences. This is where you'll want to leave room for future growth and change, planning to test a good variety at first so you can keep the most successful plants. Finally, it's time to get to work preparing and amending your soil, weeding, and removing any unwanted plants. "If you have some you want to keep," Selvey explained, "work that into your design so you know if you need to move them."

Another way to organize your mind around transforming the garden is to think of it in seasons. There are a few special things to know when it comes to cultivating a naturalistic, native garden. House Digest's resident Master Gardener, Tiffany Selvey, spoke with us exclusively about how to break your journey down by season. She begins, as the year does, in winter. "Winter is the time for planning and preparing," she said. "Of course, planning can be done no matter what the weather is like outside, but as long as the soil is workable, you can also start preparing the ground for planting."

Spring and summer, of course, comprise the majority of the growing season. "Spring is when things start to get really busy!" Selvey said, "In most regions, this is when you'll do the bulk of your planting." She encourages gardeners interested a one-year transformation to start with perennials as young plants rather than as seeds, planting them just after the last frost in spring. And since you'll have young perennials and shallow-rooted annuals in summer, keep an eye on soil moisture as the weather heats up. "In many regions, you can continue to plant perennials and annuals well into summer," Selvey said, "So if you have bare spots, this is a good time to fill those in with fast-growing plants."

"Fall is a time for recovery and reflection," Selvey said. Look around you and record what flourished and what didn't, and note what diseases held your plants back. All of this will help you make adjustments when you start planning during your garden's second winter.

Overhauling a garden can be an intimidating — and expensive — process. Managing the transformation without spending a fortune requires planning wisely, and not necessarily pinching pennies in every area. When House Digest spoke exclusively with in-house gardening expert Tiffany Selvey, she gave us some great tips — starting at the beginning, with seeds. "Seeds are always cheaper than plants, so, for a full, natural garden paradise, I recommend splurging on the perennial plants you can afford. Then, fill in empty spaces with fast-growing annuals from seed," Selvey advised, "Edible herbs like dill and cilantro grow incredibly quickly, provide a lot of benefits to wildlife, and you can buy the seeds super cheap at places like Dollar Tree."

A natural, native garden can also take some of its cues from the natural, native world, including the best plants to grow for a biodiverse garden. Rather than focusing entirely on flashy ornamentals when planning your garden, consider all of your other options. Let the growing conditions of your yard inform your choice of plants, and, in keeping with the fields and woodlands around you, don't always think big. "Native ground covers are wonderful to include in these natural spaces," Selvey explained, "They act as living mulch, allowing you to spend less on actual mulch." Fortunately, this style of gardening also provides some unique (and uniquely fun) ways of acquiring your plants. Native gardeners build communities based on sharing, so learn where your local plant sales and giveaways are. Meetups are often organized as plant and seed swaps, and a tight budget always has room for getting (and giving) cuttings or divisions from friends.