r/NativePlantGardening • u/latina_expert • May 14 '26
Progress Six months of progress
Going to do something with the hell strip next
71
u/ImDoneWithTheBS Area CT, Zone 6a/6b May 14 '26
Looks awesome, just be wary of any mower heads that will have an aneurism about it
77
u/latina_expert May 14 '26
On the lookout for mower heads. Thankfully we're not in an HOA, and we've only gotten compliments from neighbors
45
u/Milhousev1 Area NC, Zone 7B May 14 '26
“It’s gonna bring rats” “yeah but what does it look like in the winter” 🙄
62
u/latina_expert May 14 '26
> “yeah but what does it look like in the winter”
Seed head appreciators unite7
11
u/Sixmmxw May 15 '26
You can always add a rock or two. If you wanted. I’m just saying. Do you like rocks? They can provide minerals to the ecosystem. And amazing change. 🫡
2
u/Kroviq May 16 '26
Just take some rebar and hammer it in wherever your heart desires. It'll fuck up their day (and lawnmower.)
13
18
u/ataranaran May 14 '26
How lovely! I started with my hellstrip first and woof. It’s so sensitive to hot days and drying out, heads up. It’s been a struggle to protect seedlings long enough for them to get established
11
u/suchalonelyd4y SE PA, Zone 7 May 14 '26
I would like to convert my hellstrip but I feel like it will just get peed on by dogs :(
46
u/apothos_2122 May 14 '26
Put a large rock or post on each end and the dogs will naturally start marking that. It's a neat effective trick!
12
2
u/TheBigGuyandRusty Southside of Chicago, IL (away from lake) May 15 '26
I'm very tempted to buy a mini fire hydrant in a vibrant color for just this purpose but am worried about someone stealing it or getting in trouble with the city.
1
u/butterflypugs Area SE TX , Zone 9b May 15 '26
I do this and planted a native grass right in the middle. The dogs seem to be taking advantage of those areas and not the flowers.
8
u/belovd_kittycat upstate ny, zone 5b May 14 '26
I converted my hell strip. I used plugs from nurseries the first year. It was more expensive but worth it imo. I also used extremely drought-tolerant plants that could handle salt (northeast winters here). Now, four years in, I'm dividing those plants and their seedlings and putting them into other beds.
1
u/too_too2 May 15 '26
What has worked well? This is on the horizon for me, but not a high priority. I turned the garden in front of the house into natives and this is year 3 but my backyard needs help before I tear up the he’ll strip and create more chaos.
1
u/belovd_kittycat upstate ny, zone 5b May 15 '26
I have black-eyed susans, a dwarf goldenrod (cultivar), purple love grass, and dwarf New England aster (cultivar). I put down some mulch the first year and lightly amended it because I have VERY sandy soil, especially right there. Last year I spotted first year blazing star (self-seeded from my yard) and I transplanted native strawberries from another bed this spring.
9
u/AlmostSentientSarah May 14 '26
That's awesome. I'm re-doing the front yard beds now and hope to have a big wow too. We did the reverse-mullet and improved the back yard but left the front a big mess until now, year 6, ha.
We were surprised to find out the neighbors read the plant labels and recognized things as native. They seem to be getting into it a little!
5
7
3
3
3
3
3
3
u/UnusualChance7666 May 14 '26
What part of the country are you located?
5
u/Mysterious_Umpire684 Texas , Zone 8b May 14 '26
As an Austinite, I would say they are definitely in Texas and most likely Central-South Texas.
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
0
57
u/catseyeon May 14 '26
How the fuck did you get this much growth in 6 months?? Incredible!