How to create Smart, Sustainable, and Beautiful Native based landscaping
Looking to create a landscape that’s both attractive and easy to care for? Native plantings are an ideal solution for Maine homeowners. These plants thrive in our local climate, reduce maintenance needs, and support the environment. Whether you live near the coast or inland, native landscaping can help you build a sustainable, low-maintenance yard that works with nature, not against it.
At Garden Guys Landscaping, we design and install native landscapes throughout Portland, South Portland, Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough, and nearby towns. If you’re searching for native landscaping near me or need help selecting the best native plants for your Maine yard, we’re here to help.
What Are Native Plantings?
Native plants are species that naturally grow in a region without being introduced. In Maine, that includes bayberry (Morella pensylvanica), Eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana), winterberry holly (Ilex verticillata), sweetfern (Comptonia peregrina), and New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae). Native plant lists and regional recommendations are often based on research from land-grant universities and conservation groups.These plants have evolved with our climate and soils, making them resilient, drought-tolerant, and better suited for salt, wind, and temperature swings. They are perfect for those looking for low-maintenance landscaping ideas or erosion-resistant groundcovers.
Why Use Native Plantings in Maine Landscapes?
1. Low Maintenance and Water-Efficient
Native plants require less irrigation, fertilizing, and spraying. They are ideal for homeowners who want low-maintenance yards and sustainable landscape design.
2. Adapted to Maine’s Soil and Coastal Conditions
Maine’s sandy, rocky, and sometimes compacted soils can be a challenge. Native species naturally thrive in these conditions, especially in yards near the ocean or on slopes.
3. Natural Drainage and Erosion Control
On properties with poor drainage or risk of erosion, native grasses, shrubs, and deep-rooted trees stabilize the soil. We often use native plants for drainage solutions in coastal landscapes and hillside properties.
4. Pollinator and Wildlife Friendly
Native landscaping helps support bees, butterflies, birds, and other wildlife. Whether you want a native pollinator garden or a natural buffer zone, these plants offer habitat and food throughout the seasons.
5. Salt-Tolerant Options for Roadsides and Coastal Yards
For homes near saltwater or plowed roads, we often recommend bayberry, sweetfern, and Eastern redcedar. These hardy species can handle salt spray and poor soil without constant upkeep.
Popular Native Plantings for Maine Yards
- Bayberry – Great for coastal landscaping in Maine, hardy and fragrant
- Eastern Redcedar – Evergreen tree for screening and year-round interest
- Winterberry Holly – Red berries brighten up winter landscapes
- New England Aster – Late-blooming pollinator favorite
- Joe Pye Weed – Tall, moisture-loving plant that draws butterflies
- Sweetfern – Spreads easily in dry or sandy soils
We use native trees, shrubs, and perennials in many of our landscape installation services. Whether designing a full backyard garden or replacing turf with sustainable plants, native options make sense for long-term health and lower maintenance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I mix native and non-native plants in my yard? Yes. We often combine native species with well-behaved non-native plants to add color and variety. The key is avoiding invasive plants that disrupt local ecosystems.
What are the best native plantings for full sun or shade in Maine? For sunny areas, try New England aster, bayberry, or switchgrass. For shady spots, consider foamflower, wild ginger, or red columbine. We can help select the best options for your yard’s conditions.
Do you offer native planting services near me? We offer native landscape installation, coastal planting, and erosion control planting in Cape Elizabeth, South Portland, Portland, Scarborough, and nearby areas in southern Maine.
When is the best time to plant? Spring and early fall are the best times for planting native shrubs, trees, and perennials. Cooler temperatures and increased rainfall help roots establish.
Preparing a bed for native perennials
Most native beds in Southern Maine replace lawn, and the grass has to go completely. Either strip the sod, or smother it under cardboard and a few inches of compost or mulch for a full season before planting. Rototilling a lawn without removing it just chops the grass into pieces that regrow among your new plants.
Go easy on amendments. Many native perennials and grasses, such as little bluestem, goldenrods and asters, grow best in lean soil and flop over in rich, heavily composted beds. Test the soil first through the University of Maine Cooperative Extension and correct only what the test shows. Moisture-loving natives like Joe-Pye weed and blue flag iris are the exception and appreciate organic matter.
Spacing and layout
Plant closer than you think. Nursery plugs and quart pots typically go 12 to 18 inches apart, gallon plants 18 to 24 inches, so the foliage closes over the soil within two or three seasons. A closed canopy of plants is what keeps weeds down long-term, not mulch.
- Group each species in drifts of three, five or more rather than single plants
- Put grasses and low groundcovers at the front edge so the bed stays tidy from the path
- Mix bloom times so the bed has something in flower from June into October
The first three years
Native perennials put their energy into roots first. The common rule is that they sleep the first year, creep the second and leap the third, and that matches what homeowners see.
- Year one: water deeply about once a week in dry spells, roughly an inch at a time, and weed every couple of weeks. Expect modest top growth.
- Year two: water only in real drought. Weeding drops off as plants spread. Fill any gaps.
- Year three: the bed should be mostly closed. Most care is a spring cutback and spot weeding.
Keep mulch thin, about two inches of shredded bark or leaf mulch, and keep it off the crowns. Thick mulch smothers the self-seeding that fills a native bed over time. Our mulching guide covers depth and materials.
Deer and native perennials
Being native does not make a plant deer-proof. In towns with heavy deer pressure, lean on species deer usually pass over, such as ferns, milkweeds, blue flag iris, goldenrods and native grasses like little bluestem and switchgrass. Expect asters and other tender plants to be browsed, and protect new plantings with temporary netting through their first season, when they are most vulnerable.
Where these beds fit in the yard
Perennial beds pair naturally with a structure of shrubs behind them; see native shrubs by the job they do, and planning a pollinator garden for bloom timing. Our landscape installation crews prepare and plant native beds in towns including Cape Elizabeth and Falmouth.