Sustainable Garden Resources and Frequently Asked Questions

This page is not current — please go rewildlongisland.org/resources for our most updated page.

We are often asked to help new and experienced rewilders with their gardens. Here are some frequently asked questions and answers. We will try to keep these updated, but if you notice errors, please do let us know!

Basics of Native Plant Gardening

1. How to prepare your lawn for conversion with cardboard and Mulch: https://www.rewildlongisland.org/blog/prepare-for-spring-cardboard-and-mulch

2. Create a pollinator friendly garden : https://www.rewildlongisland.org/blog/create-a-pollinator-friendly-garden-talk-by-kimberly-simmen

3. How to maintain a native plant garden : https://www.rewildlongisland.org/blog/free-public-webinar-maintenance-for-a-weed-free-and-vibrant-native-garden

4. 22 interesting native plants -- https://www.rewildlongisland.org/blog/22-native-plants-for-2022-how-to-prep-this-fall-for-next-spring

5. TLC for Native Plant Gardens: https://www.rewildlongisland.org/blog/tlc-for-native-plants-how-to-maintain-your-garden

Garden designs with Native Plants

1. Bee and Butterly friendly garden: https://www.rewildlongisland.org/blog/rewild-bee-and-butterfly-showy-sun-design-by-rusty-schmidt

2. Shade Tolerant Garden: https://www.rewildlongisland.org/blog/rewild-bee-and-butterfly-showy-sun-design-by-rusty-schmidt-bg8nd

3. Wildflower Meadow; https://www.rewildlongisland.org/blog/rewild-wildflower-meadow-by-kimberly-simmen

4. Edible Garden: https://www.rewildlongisland.org/blog/rewild-wildflower-meadow-by-kimberly-simmen-lh245

5. 22 Great Native Plants: https://www.rewildlongisland.org/blog/22-native-plants-for-2022-how-to-prep-this-fall-for-next-spring
    

Other People’s EXPERIENCES

1. Replace your lawn grass with Phlox: https://www.rewildlongisland.org/blog/cut-the-grass-phlox-as-an-altnerative-for-the-median-strip-

2. Replace your lawn with creeping thyme: https://www.rewildlongisland.org/blog/its-about-thyme-get-rid-of-that-lawn

3. Louisa's story of lawn to garden : https://www.rewildlongisland.org/blog/louisa-chan-first-time-rewilding-story

4. Janine's backyard native garden project: https://www.rewildlongisland.org/blog/backyard-transformation-with-pond-and-native-garden

5. Labor of Love in Margaret's tiny front yard : https://www.rewildlongisland.org/blog/labor-of-love-margaret-and-charlie-on-their-first-rewilding-experience

6. Peggy's Bird Friendly Front Lawn Conversion: 10 years and not done! https://www.rewildlongisland.org/blog/peggys-project-10-years-and-not-done

7. Robert's mixed results on Rewilding: https://www.rewildlongisland.org/blog/mixed-results-on-rewilding-by-robert-walzer

8. Hooked on ReWilding : Joanne's Story: https://www.rewildlongisland.org/blog/hooked-on-rewilding-joannes-story

WHAT ARE SOME GROUNDCOVER ALTERNATIVES TO LAWNS?

•  No-Mow Grass Seed from Prairie Nursery. This has not worked well for any of us so far, so please let us know if you’re successful. https://www.prairienursery.com/no-mow-lawn/no-mow-lawn-seed-mixes.html

• Creeping Thyme: Here is a blog post on how a local rewilder succeeded with Thyme. But note that it’s not native to Long Island (though an environmentally option).

• Creeping Phlox: Here is a blog post on how a local rewilder succeeded with creeping phlox. This is native to Long Island and an excellent option!

• You can search for these online … or at the ReWild Spring and Fall plant sales. 

HOW DO I LABEL PLANTS TO REMEMBER WHAT I PLANTED WHERE?

1. Label Stand we have used before: Garden-Mate 50 Pack Weatherproof Large Zinc Meta Plant Labels

2. Printing Labels using Avery online tool: https://www.avery.com/custom-printing/labels/calculator/rectangle

   • Choose…Custom printed labels

   • Format: Sheet labels

   • Shape: Rectangle

   • Size:1 x 2 5/8

   • Material: Matte White Film

   • Label Quantity & Price (I chose two sheets of 24, total amount 48 labels for $14.00)

   • Then click “Start Designing”

   • Select “Edit All” first, designed one label which came out on all 24 labels, then edited the name of the plant and the image for each label.

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE ABOUT SMART IRRIGATION?

Watch the Port Washington Water District Smart Irrigation Video. For customers of the Port Washington Water District you can get a $150 rebate as well: https://pwwd.org/conservation/smart-irrigation-video/ (if the promotion is still on!)

HOW DO I GET STARTED WITH THE BOKASHI METHOD OF COMPOSTING?

ReWild Long Island Blog post about the Bokashi Composting method

HOW DO YOU CREATE A “CATIO”?

In one of the gardens, you may have noticed a beautiful, outdoor space for cats.  Here is more information about the “catio”. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gc5zXyGLbmaRsRwMs5RDrdDWrDq-9E5-/edit

WHERE DID WE GET THE ITEMS THAT YOU SAW AT VARIOUS HOST GARDENS on a Rewild sustainable garden tour?

1. Rain Barrel

   • Discounted rain barrels and composters from the Town of North Hempstead (For residents only): https://www.northhempsteadny.gov/rbandcompost

   • Also, many available on the internet including Gardener’s Supply Rain Water Urn, 65 Gallons in Terra Cotta: https://www.gardeners.com/buy/rain-catcher-urn-65-gallon/38-683.html

2. Fountains

   •  Many available on the internet — the one on display at one of the hosts was the floating solar powered birdbath fountain from Amazon.

   • Many available for purchase at Heritage Farm and Garden, Muttontown, NY, including a small concrete water fountain with electric pump.

3. Raised Garden Bed on Wheels

   • Many available on the internet — the one on display at one of the hosts was the 5 Tier Vertical Raised Garden Bed with Wheels, for Patio Balcony Greenhouse from Walmart.com

4. “Pop-up” greenhouse

   • Many available on the internet — the one on display at one of the hosts was the Sunbubble Greenhouse from Gardener’s Supply
     

Where can I get Native Plants

1. ReWild Spring and Fall Plant Sales -- www.rewildlongisland.org/plantsale. Register for our mailing list to be notified. (Scroll to bottom of page.)

1. Kimberly Simmen of KMS Natives,  kmsnativeplants@gmail.com -   https://www.kmsnativeplants.com

1. Anthony Marinello of Dropseed Native Landscapes anthony@dropseednativelandscapesli.com
   

Can someone help me do it? I can't figure this out myself!

Native Plant Landscape Consultants - Try out more than one, and always understand that your experience may be unique

a.       Anthony Marinello of Dropseed Native Landscapes anthony@dropseednativelandscapesli.com

b.       Daniel Tyska, Tyska Native Plants & Consulting, dttyska@outlook.com

c.       Frank Piccininni of Spadefoot Design, fpiccininni@smpilconsulting.com

d.       Mark Scaramucci at Permascape designs m.scaramucci@gmail.com

e.        Rebecca Vargas, independent consultant peacefulplantdesigns@gmail.com

f.       Rusty Schmidt at Nelson Pope Vorhees RSchmidt@nelsonpope.com