Naturescape in 8 Steps

Depending on the size of the area you are naturescaping and the hours you have available (or if you plan to hire the work out), you may want to do the project all at once or spread it out over a year to year and half or many years doing specific sections at a time. Spreading it out will give you more chance to become more intimately familiar with your yard and its microhabits, to remove more invasives and their resprouts, and will help spread the work load and cost.

When to do what?

Spring and Summer are an excellent time to do plant identification since deciduous plants have leafed out. Spring and Early Summer are also the best time of year to remove invasives because the soil is still damp. Damp soil makes pulling invasives easier since roots and root structures come out more easily and are much less likely to break and leave parts of roots behind.

Late Summer and Early Fall before Fall rains begin are good times to install erosion control. Summer is also an excellent time of year to see plants fully leafed out, note where shade and sun are, what bare spots there are, and note which sections stay wet or get dry.

Winter (second half of January and early February) is the best time of year to plant because it gives the plants roots a long time in damp soil to establish, and its easier to dig planting holes in the wet ground. Winter is also a great time to note which plants are evergreen and where you might want to add other evergreens, and to note any erosion problem areas especially right after any heavy rains.