Many concerned gardeners want to transition their home garden dominated by non-natives to a more pollinator friendly native garden once they realize the benefits to the environment. Native gardens increase biodiversity, connect to natural ecosystems, and provide habitat for native wildlife. The goal for planting natives in your garden is to contain at least 70% native species.

Aronias (Chokeberry) were planted in place of a Plum Yew

HOA’s

But creating a more eco-diverse landscape can seem intimidating to accomplish at first, especially if your property is governed by HOA (Home Owners Association) rules. Most HOA’s are resistant to any drastic changes and especially to changes that can visibly alter your home’s exterior appearance and try to keep all the properties under their purview “manicured and uniform in character”. All it takes is for one resident to file a complaint for a warning to be lodged with the offending homeowner and then a cascading effect of conflicts and issues can result. HOA’s are for the most part populated by elected volunteers who have little experience with all the environmental issues, particularly with good communication and resolution of problems.

Replacing a Nandina with Juniperus virginiana ‘Taylor’, which is a slender variety

If you live in a community governed by a HOA in my state, Maryland, it can no longer prohibit you from planting native plants and creating wildlife habitat. A law was passed by the MD State Assembly in 2021 and has joined a number of other states, by passing MD HB322, a law that specifically addresses your right to be wildlife friendly. Even the national association representing HOA’s supported the legislation. Many states have jumped on board with this, but you need to check your state laws before tackling this issue.

The HOA complained about the front entrance as “too messy”, producing berries that birds will eat and poop all over the cars! Red twig dogwoods and Aronia ‘Ground Hug’ which has lovely red berries in the fall.

Transition Gradually

I have been involved as a landscape designer working at a property that was planted with totally exotic ornamentals that came from all parts of the world. Most of the plants used are commonly planted today in many urban and suburban locations as they are relatively cheap (think Yews) and grow quickly with little care (more Yews!). But unfortunately, deer are drawn to many of the ornamentals and they become a deer buffet and unsightly looking.

Typical landscape has mostly exotic ornamentals

Replaced arborvitaes with native Hollies

I was hired to convert a property over a period of years to a mostly native landscape. Our goal was a minimum of 70% of native plantings from a starting line up of 100% exotic ornamentals. Phased in over a number of years (this is year 5) the conversion is much more doable, labor and budget wise. The 30% percent left will be large established trees, like Japanese Maples and Magnolias, already present. For every change that was made, I was required to submit a scale drawing of the proposed new plantings and removals, which was reviewed by the HOA committee.

A Japanese Maple anchors the rear garden with dwarf Oakleaf Hydrangeas and Japanese pachysandra which will be removed eventually

Don’t assume that the committee will know and understand plants. I tried to describe each one (evergreen or deciduous), the ultimate size, and a picture to refer to. I also included the benefit to the environment like berries for the birds, host plant for butterflies, bee forage, etc.

Great swaths of pachysandra and rhododendrons were removed and service berries, and other native perennials were added

Ground Covers

Most of the ground cover at the property was Japanese Pachysandra, Pachysandra terminalis. Our goal is to to rip out and replace with native ground covers such as Green and Gold (Chrysogonum), Native pachysandra (Pachysandra procumbens), Christmas Fern (Polystichum acrosticoides), Bleeding Heart (Dicentra eximia), Heuchera villosa ‘Autumn Bride’, and Ragwort (Packera aurea). Already large areas of these have been planted and they are taking off.

Ground cover of Pachysandra procumbens mulched with pine straw

Green and Gold (Chrysogonum) ground cover

Screens

Screens are often on a wish list when people renovate or install a landscape. Evergreen native screening plants are in demand rather than the commonly used ones of exotic Arborvitaes, Cherry Laurels, and Japanese Cedars for native landscapes. Often I use the native Hollies (Ilex opaca) which have a number of cultivars. I use this great reference, America’s Evergreen Hollies, in the American Gardener for different native hollies.

Ilex opaca ‘Satyr Hill, at my house as a screen

Bayberries, Inkberries, Leatherleaf Viburnums, and Eastern Red Cedars are also good native evergreen screening choices.

Color

My customer really wanted some flowering perennials to add color and pollinator forage. We planted in place of Pachysandra – Butterfly Weed (Asclepias), Dwarf Goldenrod (Solidago), Coneflowers, Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum), Anise Hyssop (Agastache), Indian Pink (Spigelia), and Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia). Chosen for different blooming times, there is always something in bloom in the garden.

The most important step was placing signage up to notify and educate passersby’s. Hoping that other people will start their own transition is part of the plan.

You can get signs online with The National Wildlife Federation or with Doug Tallamy’s website – Homegrown National Park.

Steps to Convert

Assess your plantings and slate for removal any failing or deer browsed plants; Keep the ones that you love!
Pick one area at a time for removal, replanting, and refurbishing.
Find out your HOA restrictions.
Submit a plan if necessary to the HOA (scaled hand drawn plan) with the plant benefits.
Meet with the HOA in person if necessary at the property to go over the plan and discuss with neighbors any changes that will affect them.
Put up a sign educating people about the changes.