Sometimes I’ve felt overwhelmed in my yard, surrounded by invasive plants that won’t stop growing. I would love more native plants and even more dandelions and violets! 

But instead, I’ve had an abundance of English ivy, Asian bush honeysuckle, heavenly bamboo and daylilies.  Invasive plants like these out-compete the native plants that provide food for local wildlife, reducing the diversity of species in our area.

I want a more values-aligned garden, one that plays a small part in saving the bees and the birds, saving water, and fighting climate change. That is why I want to add more native plants.

But where to start? My yard is not a blank slate.

If you, like me, can’t afford a landscaper or yard service, the answer is to proceed in stages. Before I could add more native plants to my garden, I had to remove some of the huge invasives taking over garden space despite my cutting, weeding, and pulling.

First, I dug up the heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica), an invasive. I know its berries can be toxic to certain birds. Second, to battle the ever-growing Amur honeysuckle shrubs, I had to learn to use a small chainsaw. After yanking my shoulders out a few times, I figured out how to bite the wood and cut.  It was not for the faint of heart. 

But perseverance has its rewards. The first bush honeysuckle was gone and three more would follow, leaving quite a mess to clean up.

Only thousands of English ivy strands to go. The struggle continues, but a garden more welcoming to native plants is slowly emerging.

In May, in the cleared area, I transplanted several 3-gallon pots of Hypericum prolificum from Bona Terra Nursery.  I look forward to their yellow blossoms this summer.

–Sharon Broderick