Our Native Landscape Story (Part 11): Other Half of Grant Area

This is Part 11 of Our Native Landscape Story.

Each of the posts in this series has showcased sections of our yard and what we've done in each section including before and after photos.

Part 1 and Part 2: Removing Impervious Surfaces

Part 3: Removing Stone Mulch

Part 4: Removing Invasive Species and Smothering Grass

Part 5: Smothering More Grass and Planting Woodland Natives

Part 6: Planting Natives on a Steep Hillside

Part 7: Planting the Hillside

Part 8: Removing More Stone Mulch and Planting Prairie Plugs

Part 9: Working with Damaged Soil

Part 10: Acquiring a Grant

Part 11 is the second half of the grant area from Part 10. It is the north eastern fenceline in our back yard. We smothered the grass in the back half by the fence in 2006. Bareroot native shrubs were planted including American Hazelnut, Prickly Ash, Ninebark, Red Osier Dogwood, Cranberry Viburnum.

Before July 2004

June 2009, Native shrub backdrop. Ironwood tree on left.

Late fall 2009. Before smothering grass.

Fall 2009. Raked leaves from lawn into area.
One layer added below paper, another layer added on top
to smother grass over the winter.

Late June 2010. Newly smothered area planted with grant acquired
natives. Paper birch and American Basswood trees added.

August 2010. Native prairie forbs & grasses in foreground
transitioning to woodland forbs and sedges in background.

August 2010. View from other end. Birch logs added to help
retain moisture for new shrubs and slow runoff. Also great
overwintering insect habitat.

Native shrubs added to the foreground were Downy Arrowwood Viburnum and Nannyberry Viburnum. American Hazelnut and Ninebark are behind in the older planting. 


Woodland species included Early Meadow Rue, Wild Geranium, Virginia Waterleaf, Zig zag Goldenrod, False Solomon's Seal, Yellow Violets, Solomon's Seal, Pennsylvania Sedge and Sprengel's Sedge.


Prairie species on the left were Butterfly Milkweed, Silky Aster, Side Oats Grama, Rough Blazingstar, Gray Headed Coneflower, Little Bluestem, Blue Grama and Wild Lupine.