The benefits of gardens are endless: beautiful views, serene spaces and a way to support local ecosystems! No matter if you’re a beginner gardener or avid seasonal planter, read on to get garden tips from Shedd’s Horticulture team, who tends to over 90,000 square feet and 400 plants around Shedd, learn about native plants and discover pointers for a beautiful space.
Tip 1: Leave Leaves Be
Hold off on raking! Despite the temporary eyesore, dead leaves provide essential habitats for an array of beneficial insects. Native bees, butterflies, moths and ladybugs all rely on garden debris for protection during the cold months. The cycle continues as insects decompose, nurturing the soil food web and creating healthier growing conditions for the next season.
Along with leaves, dead grasses benefit local habitats! It provides bee protection and nesting material for birds. Old grass blades are effective (and free!) mulch that are important for soil moisture retention.
Tip 2: Milkweeds for Monarchs
Calling all butterfly lovers, milkweeds are the only host plants for endangered Monarch butterflies! Monarch caterpillars can only eat milkweed, emphasizing the presence of this important plant. Beyond butterflies, it’s also a reliable source of nectar and pollen for other insects.
To add milkweed to your garden, begin collecting your seeds in the fall and plant by lightly covering seeds in loose soil before the ground freezes. Milkweed prefers the sun and average to low moisture, but this plant is very adaptable!
Tip 3: Dry, Sunny Garden? Plant Cacti!
Did you know there are cacti native to Illinois? Eastern prickly pear is one species with edible pads and fruit! The showy flowers attract many types of bees including bumblebees, digger bees and leaf-cutting bees. Diversify your garden and sprinkle this new, long-lived plant into your backyard.
Tip 4: Plant Keystones
Keystone native plants are integral to maintaining local biodiversity, providing critical food and shelter for many animal species. These plants are foundational to local ecosystems and support most insects and birds in their region, which then support animals and other plants.
Keystone native plants provide great value with little space. Even growing a keystone plant on your balcony or window box can bridge the gaps between natural resources as and insects and birds move and migrate. Sunflowers, goldenrods, black-eyed Susans and Joe-Pye Weeds are all native plants with plenty of benefits for local ecosystems.
Tip 5: Visit Shedd for Inspiration
Gardening is not only a way to connect with nature, but to support it! When you visit the gardens at Shedd you’ll encounter over 400 species of perennial and annual plants. Over half of the plants are native to the greater Chicago area and were carefully chosen to provide nectar, pollen and habitats for local insects and birds. Take a closer look, follow the sounds of nature and discover the blooming plants, biodiversity and wonder growing around you on your next visit.