Next Steps for Your New Garden
A quick care guide for the NC Piedmont — plus easy ways to get help.
Reviews help neighbors discover native plants — thank you for supporting local ecology!
Piedmont • Zone 7 Winston-Salem
The 5 Essentials (10–20 minutes, once a week)
Watering (Year 1 focus): About 1 inch per week total. If there’s no rain, slow-soak once weekly. In heat waves, check soil 2–3” down; if dry, water again mid-week.
Weeding: Pull invasives before they set seed (watch for Japanese stiltgrass, creeping Charlie, hedge wiregrass). Disturb soil as little as possible.
Mulch: Maintain a 2–3” layer, pulled back from stems. Top up each spring. Leaf litter can remain in beds — it feeds soil life.
Right-place checks: If a plant looks leggy, yellowing, or stunted, note light/soil. We can relocate it in the right season.
Patrol: Do a 5-minute walk: look for chewing, wilting, or weeds. Early action = easy action.
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Top up mulch; edge beds.
Light compost around heavy bloomers (don’t touch stems).
Cut back stems of perennials by mid-March. Leave ~2’ of stalks to allow for any overwintering bees to emerge and to add structure to the new stalks.
Best time to transplant/shift placements while cool and moist.
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Deep water during dry spells; mornings are best.
Deadhead some perennials (asters, coneflowers) for a tidier look; leave some seed for birds.
Weed weekly before seed set on undesirable weeds; watch for Japanese stiltgrass (July–Sept).
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Prime planting season — best time for new natives.
Leave leaves in beds; shred on lawns only if needed.
Cut back only what flops into paths; leave upright stems for overwintering bees.
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Structural pruning for shrubs/trees (species-appropriate timing): inkberry after bloom if needed; viburnum late winter; dogwood light shaping only.
Soil tests, plan additions, sharpen tools.
Seasonal Tasks — NC Piedmont
Plant-Specific Notes (common Fairnilee installs)
Inkberry (Ilex glabra): Even moisture first year. Light shape after flowering. Great boxwood alternative; avoid hard shearing.
Arrowwood viburnum (V. dentatum): Prune late winter; great berries for birds — avoid heavy summer cuts.
Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana): Water through droughts first 2 years. Winter prune crossing branches.
Redtwig dogwood (Cornus sericea): For brightest stems, cut back about 1/3 of oldest canes in late winter.
Amsonia: After bloom, cut back by one-third for a denser, tidier mound.
Goldenrod & asters: Pinch tips in late spring for sturdier plants; leave some fall seed for birds.
Columbine & dwarf crested iris: Deadhead columbine to manage self-seeding; divide iris clumps every 3–4 years.
Prefer Done-For-You Care?
Native gardens evolve. Regular, ecological maintenance keeps them beautiful and resilient.
Seasonal Refresh (2–3 visits/year: spring, summer, fall)
Weed suppression & mulch top-up
Selective cutbacks & deadheading
Right-plant, right-place adjustments
Monthly Care (best for busy homeowners)
Deep weeding & edge touch-ups
Watering checks & pest scouting
Seasonal pruning & plant health
Stewardship Plus (large/complex landscapes)
Custom schedule & plant sourcing
Soil building & habitat features
Quarterly review with Lydia
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Maybe. Aim for ~1” per week total. If rainfall was light, slow-soak to reach roots. Check moisture 2–3” down.
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Keep leaves in beds whenever possible — they feed soil and shelter insects. Clear only from lawns/paths.
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We can suggest browse-resistant natives and add discreet protection where browsing pressure is high.
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It depends on bloom time and species. Many structural cuts happen in late winter; some shaping occurs right after bloom.
FAQ
Thank you for supporting native plants in the Piedmont. Your review helps neighbors find ecological landscaping.