FAQs

In ecological design we consider a variety of factors beyond hardiness zone, and prioritize selecting plants based on their natural communities and native habitat range (sometimes called ecozones or ecoregions) to ensure that the plant is growing in conditions that are best suited for them. This lowers the need for external inputs like synthetic fertilizer and pH adjusters.  It also means that plants are growing among other plants with similar needs, in groups normally found in nature.

By comparing your site to regional habitat ranges we can select plants that grow well in your existing conditions; this may include areas like woodland habitat, open meadows, or wetlands.  We will use native plant communities as guidelines to know which type of soil the plants grow best in, what kind of moisture and drainage they prefer, how much sun is required for healthy growth, and companion plants that help support a wide range of wildlife.  We also consider the blooming season, shape, colour, and size of the plant, and make sure to include as many plants as possible to provide wildlife with food and shelter.  We encourage the use of natural habitat features, such as logs and rock piles, and when appropriate, incorporate these elements into your garden.

Combining this information with your personal preferences, we can create a garden that you will be happy with!

In short, a native plant is one that has been growing in a particular area for millennia.  It co-evolved with other native flora and fauna to form symbiotic relationships to keep nature in balance.  Some of these symbiotic relationships are obvious and known to us (for example: birds eat berries, then fly over different areas and drop the seeds in their poop, which then acts as a fertilizer to help the plant grow in the new location), other relationships are still being studied; all of them are important.

A large majority of the plants readily available in garden centres are imported ornamental plants (from places like Europe or Asia) or modified-cultivated plants which have been bred for specific characteristics (like size, colour, or growth habit).  Too often these plants have been modified to an extent that they become less beneficial, or useless, to native fauna.  Imported plants can also escape our gardens and colonize in the wild, out-competing our native flora for habitat; these plants are usually classified as invasive in Ontario and create a loss of native biodiversity in our wild spaces.

(See the following FAQ for more information)

Not all plants behave equally in the ecosystem.

Many garden centres still sell plants listed as invasive, meaning they have negative impacts on the local environment (click here for details).  It is common for many of us to have invasive plants in our gardens and not even realize it.  We can help you to identify them and together decide what the best steps are (we will recommend removal and disposal of invasive plants).

It's also important for ecological gardens to support wildlife, and studies repeatedly show that native insects and birds rely on native plants almost exclusively for food and hosting sites.

For example, berries, seeds, and fruit produced on native plants provide the balanced nutrition that birds need to prepare for migration or survive our cold Canadian winters, unlike imported-ornamental plants which are too low in fat and too high in sugar to meet the nutritional needs of our feathered friends.

As well, most native insects have coevolved with native plants and formed specialized relationships, meaning they can only eat that type of plant (many of us are familiar with the specialized relationship between the endangered Monarch butterfly and milkweed).  Without that plant, there will be no insect.  We need the insects to pollinate our plants (including trees & crops) and feed other animals.  It's all part of the natural cycle.

This is why we focus on native plants.

It's our job to ensure that you're getting the ecologically beneficial garden that you desire.  For some people this means installing a large naturalized area where plants roam free.  For others, it means a formal garden with clean borders and tidy plants.  Many people are looking for something in between, and we're here to help you find the right balance.

That depends. We help you find the balance between the plants you already love (you won't necessarily need to say goodbye to your favourite hydrangea), and the native plants we know you'll soon love.  We can create a brand new garden area or add plants to an existing garden bed.  Unless a plant is causing harm to the environment (see below) or you're simply ready for a change, we believe that removing healthy plants isn't always necessary.

We do encourage our customers to remove any plant that is listed as invasive by the Ontario Invasive Plant Council.  We also aim for at least 70% native plants in a yard, as research has shown this to be the minimum amount for native wildlife success; this does not need to happen all at once and can be accomplished over time.

We think so! Imagine if everyone in your neighbourhood dedicated a few square feet of space (in the ground or in pots) to native plants.  The overall area could be quite significant.  These small patches can be resting stops for pollinating insects like monarch butterflies, overwintering habitat for queen bumblebees, and a place to get a snack for a travelling bird.  We will help you select plants that will do well with the space you have available.

We'd love to! We are happy to consult with you and provide some options to increase the environmental benefits in your yard. We can help you visualize your space through an ecological lens and provide a design that you can implement yourself, or have us implement for you (or with you!).  Our goal is to have more wildlife friendly spaces in our communities, and we're here to help you get involved.

There are many native plants which can be used as food for humans too!  Fruit trees, nut trees, berry producing shrubs, native herbs, wild allium (leeks/chives), and edible leaves, roots, and flower petals can all be grown in your yard.

Growing a typical vegetable garden or a food forest is not our specialty and we do not make specific recommendations for these types of plants; but we're happy to work with the knowledge you already have to combine native plants with your favourite herbs, fruits, and vegetables in your yard.  More native plants support more pollinators, which means better food production for you.