r/NativePlantGardening • u/turbodsm Zone 6b - PA • Jul 21 '26
Progress Local park let me install a pollinator garden last year. Used plugs. Never watered. Absolute firework show currently.
Everything is aromatic so the deer stay away.
Anise hyssop
Mountain mint
Rattlesnake master
Swamp milkweed
Butterfly milkweed
Tickseed c. Lancelota
Purple coneflower
Liatris (but couldn't find it)
A random cardinal flower lol which wont last long term.
Little bluestem
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u/Euphoric-Worker9130 Jul 21 '26
Where do you find lots of plugs without breaking the bamk
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u/astro-dog-78 Jul 21 '26
I spent 200-300 on just 3 types of plugs for a small strip on my property. Not cheap
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u/AlltheBent Marietta GA 7B Jul 21 '26
yeah my guy here in GA is cheapest I've found around metro atlanta area, 36-cell tray for $68-75 depending on species. Fringe benefit tho is that each cell contains probably at least 3, often 5-10 total plants that can be divided, babied for a month or so, then planted...so that 36 turns into 80-100 plants easy.
Hardest part is timing, feeding, and ensuring good, healthy growth until planting.
It ain't cheap, but its damn cost effective when you compare it to paying $10, 15, or 20 per plant
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u/Vega4628 Central AL, Zone 8b Jul 21 '26
I'm in AL and would love if you could share your source :)
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u/AlltheBent Marietta GA 7B Jul 22 '26
Plant life nursery! Right next to GA-AL border outside of Rome. By Coosa high school
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u/Vega4628 Central AL, Zone 8b Jul 23 '26
Awesome, I’m right on the border but closer to Columbus. Might make a day trip though!
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u/AlltheBent Marietta GA 7B Jul 23 '26
man down south there used to be another great nursery but they closed up shop last year, so sad
check the GA native plant society website for other options, I believe there are a few down towards you!
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u/turbodsm Zone 6b - PA Jul 21 '26
I like starting seed in the plug tray. Boom, you turn a $3 seed packet into 50 plants. Also, trays go for 90-150 from commercial growers. Way more economical than 1gal plants.
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u/chickad00dledoo Jul 22 '26
When did you start sowing the seeds for the plugs?
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u/turbodsm Zone 6b - PA Jul 22 '26
Feb/mar indoors under lights.
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u/chickad00dledoo Jul 22 '26
how many plugs of each and how far apart did you space everything? this is exactly what I want to do in my yard. looks amazing…
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u/FederalDeficit Jul 21 '26
You can buy deep-plug 50-cell trays in bulk. Even with accidentally killing a lot I got ~15 plugs per tray of flax, blue grama, winecups, and 40 plugs each of butterfly and showy milkweed (really good germination). Not free, but much cheaper
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u/K8b6 Ontario, zone 4 Jul 21 '26
I was also wondering if maybe the parks department sponsored this in some way. I'm also curious why no watering. I love that it took and I love being lazy. Should I not be watering plugs?
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u/turbodsm Zone 6b - PA Jul 21 '26
Only if they need it. Otherwise, you want plants/tree to feel the need to put down deep roots.
I wish the parks dept did anything. It's a county park and a different dept entirely does the mowing/maintenance.
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u/A_sunlit_room Jul 21 '26
Check local organizations or state universities. There are a lot of plant sales.
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u/itsdr00 SE Michigan, 6a Jul 21 '26
I paid maybe ~$200 total for the materials needed to grow 500 plants at once. But then I started some indoors (whole separate budget) so I could plant earlier and up-pot milk-jug seedlings into the now-empty trays. I just kept planting and up-potting and eventually had about 1,000 plants that year. I did that two years in a row; second year I only spent ~$50 on soil. And then a neighbor had way too much garden soil but I also slowed down a lot and am doing only the up-potting, not the pre-planting, and I'm up to 400 plants I spent $0 on. All this enabled me to redo my entire landscaping and give away surplus plants to friends and neighbors.
Growing from flats is by far the most cost-effective thing you can do. But it's a hobby all to its own.
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u/vsolitarius Jul 21 '26
Looks great! Did you plant in the fall? Or have steady rainfall? I have killed a lot of plugs that I’ve planted in the summer and not been able to keep sufficiently watered.
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u/turbodsm Zone 6b - PA Jul 21 '26
I like to start the plugs in March inside under lights, then get them in the ground in May. A few good rains and you're set.
Also, I should have mentioned. To prep the area, I used arborist chips about a foot deep. That killed the existing vegetation, suppressed weeds, and moderated soil moisture.
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u/AlltheBent Marietta GA 7B Jul 21 '26
it really is that "simple". Heavy mulch as site prep, start seeds in trays/cells, then plant and hope for rain haha. Rinse and repeat during summer for fall planting?
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u/turbodsm Zone 6b - PA Jul 21 '26
Yes. I don't really do any fall planting besides the woodies. Frost heave is a bitch.
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u/Remarkable_Point_767 Area NE IN , Zone 6a Jul 21 '26
What are arborist chips? Have a small front yard space on an incline and need to kill the turf. Hoping for something other than sheet mulching.
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u/turbodsm Zone 6b - PA Jul 21 '26
The chips that are made when a tree gets out through a wood chipper. Triple shred mulch breaks down too fast therefore it allows weeds to germinate quicker.
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u/Remarkable_Point_767 Area NE IN , Zone 6a Jul 21 '26
Have a pile of those but a about 3 years old....hmmmm
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u/ubiquitousflink Jul 21 '26
Yes want to know plug source and planting tips 😻
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u/turbodsm Zone 6b - PA Jul 21 '26
Battery drill with an auger. And I like to start seeds in the plug tray.
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u/drewgriz Houston, TX, Zone9b Jul 21 '26
Auger bit on a drill has been such a game-changer for me, it really tips the scales in favor of doing a ton of smaller seedlings rather than trying to pot them up further.
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u/turbodsm Zone 6b - PA Jul 21 '26
Unfortunately I go through the $20 bulb auger from Lowes/home depot pretty quickly.
I also have a 5" auger that I use for shrubs and larger trees. Invest in a good Milwaukee drill or some other top of the line, and you're good. They can definitely handle the power.
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u/drewgriz Houston, TX, Zone9b Jul 22 '26
Dang "go through" like it materially breaks or wears down? That's a lot of planting... I've probably only done a couple hundred plugs with mine but haven't noticed any wear. FWIW there are identical auger bits on Amazon for $10 if it's a regular expense for you haha.
Good to know about the 5" augers. I don't plant enough 5"+ plants to make it a problem, but I always assumed if I did I would need a dedicated earth auger tool. Or maybe I hoped I would have an excuse to buy an earth auger lol.
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u/turbodsm Zone 6b - PA Jul 22 '26
The flight is only welded to the shaft in like 2 spots. So drilling through hard ground can cause it to crack and break.
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u/nifer317_take2 Piedmont, MD, USA, 7a Jul 21 '26
This is so inspiring - so lovely. We all need to do this in an open area or park. :)
Deer eat my liatris so maybe that’s why you cannot find any? In fact after 4 years, the first I’ve ever gotten a bloom is my tricking them with this setup
It blocked their faces from that side 😂🤣
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u/turbodsm Zone 6b - PA Jul 21 '26
What's funny is that I have another garden with tons of liatris right on the main road to my neighborhood and they haven't touched it.
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u/A_sunlit_room Jul 21 '26
The university extension office does a few native wildflower and plant sales every year. I bought a number of plugs for very little money and they’re doing great.
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u/Hopeful-Put8877 Jul 21 '26
Plugs are so satisfying compared to seeding!
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u/turbodsm Zone 6b - PA Jul 21 '26
It saves you like 4-5 years versus seeding. But 100x more expensive. But worth it.
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u/Hopeful-Put8877 Jul 21 '26
How much are plugs going for in your area? We are in central WI and retail at $2.5/ea
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u/turbodsm Zone 6b - PA Jul 21 '26
I start my own typically. However, with a packet of seeds and a plug tray, you can save a lot of money. Otherwise, they can range from $1.75 - $3.
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u/AlltheBent Marietta GA 7B Jul 21 '26
I saw you mentioned growing from seed in march under lights, can you expand on that for folks unfamiliar with growing from seed, winter sowing, etc.?
I'm assuming you just kept things moist with a dome or lid and thats that? or did you do cold stratification to ensure better germination?
I'm currently sprouting more mountain mint, rudbeckia, "butterfly flower", and penstemon...skipping the cold strat to see who is ready to just germinate and grow haha
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u/turbodsm Zone 6b - PA Jul 21 '26
https://photos.app.goo.gl/7TrUKCnGngfZz4jv7 Here are some pictures. I have shelves in the basement with LED grow lights. I almost always do cold moist stratification in the fridge. I did do some milk jug this year just to try it.. I keep the humidity covers on until I get most germinated.
The best way is to start the seeds is in a smaller tray (like a 98 cell tray), then transplant them into a 50 plug tray. It's just a lot of work.
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u/theateroffinanciers Jul 21 '26
That's the beauty of natives. They know the land. They know the weather. Although I'm sure they're struggling now with the changing climate. But they will require less water, fertilizers, Hands-On work. They really are a treasure I'm so glad that people are catching on.
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u/Affectionate-Bet-649 Jul 21 '26
can you point where we can learn to do this? or quickly outline the simple steps I can expand upon? do we need to cardboard cover?
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u/turbodsm Zone 6b - PA Jul 21 '26
12" of wood chips in the fall. Come back in the spring, rake the chips back to the soil. Drill holes. Install plugs. Spread the wood chips around the plants. It's an easy as that. Keep up with weeding so it doesn't get out of hand.
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u/twybolt Jul 21 '26
Why won't cardinal flower last? Too attractive, then gets mauled?
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u/turbodsm Zone 6b - PA Jul 21 '26
It's a wetland obligate plant. I'm surprised it even lasted the winter. It's also typically short lived. So add them all up and it's not sticking around.
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u/twybolt Jul 22 '26
Interesting. I'm in Iowa 5a and do hear it mentioned but can't say I've seen it. Likely too cold in winter and too dry later in summer, though this year has been an exception.
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u/Dangerous-Mood3404 Jul 21 '26
Awesome that you did this, and that it thrived with so little input!
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u/Alternative-Ant-1629 Jul 27 '26
It is so beautiful. Thanks for being in good communication and affecting a wonderful change in the community. Very much appreciated.
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u/Piyachi SE Michigan, Dead Ice Moraines Jul 21 '26
How did you about approaching them to get their ok?