Watering & First-Season Care

Native plants are low-maintenance once established, but the first growing season is the most important. Consistent watering during this period gives roots time to develop and sets your plants up for long-term success.

The First Few Weeks
- Water every 2–3 days for the first few weeks, adjusting based on rainfall and temperature.
- Water slowly and deeply rather than briefly. Water at the ground level to saturate the roots (overhead watering only waters the leaves). This encourages roots to grow downward and makes plants more drought-resilient over time.
- Check the soil before watering — it should be moist but not waterlogged.

Through the First Summer
Continue to water as needed throughout the first growing season, especially during dry spells or periods of heat. Your goal is to keep the soil consistently moist — not wet — while roots are still establishing.

Year Two and Beyond
After the first summer, no supplemental watering is needed under normal conditions. These are perennial plants — they will die back in winter and return each spring, gradually spreading to fill your garden over time. Water only during extended drought.

General Care
- No fertilizing is needed. Native plants are adapted to local soils and do not require supplemental nutrients.
- Leave seed heads standing through fall and winter. They provide food for birds and shelter for beneficial insects.
- Leave stems standing through winter and into spring. Native bees overwinter in hollow stems and return in spring to build nests and raise their young — so there is no perfect time to cut them back. Trim only when you feel you need to, and when you do, cut back by about half rather than to the ground.
- About 70% of native bees nest in the ground, not in hollow stems. Leave a small patch of bare, undisturbed soil somewhere in or near your garden to give ground-nesting bees a place to burrow and raise their young.
- Dead wood, brush piles, and leaf litter all provide critical habitat for wildlife — insects, birds, and small mammals alike. A wilder, less tidy garden is a more alive one.

Questions? Refer to your kit guide for plant-specific notes, or ask us at the market.