Nature-Friendly Gardening

West Cook Wild Ones

Learn locally! Sign up for the West Cook Wild Ones enewsletter and attend their free monthly meetings. 

Do you grow native plants? Register your garden with the West Cook Wild Ones Wildlife Corridor.

30x30 Program

Climate Ready Oak Park, the Village of Oak Park’s Sustainability Plan, as well as other municipalities across the globe, pledges to adhere to the 30x30 program. 

What can you plant in your yard to make it nature-friendly?

Read this first: Soft Landings by insect expert Heather Holmes. She includes plant lists and other advice.

OAK TREES & OTHER NATIVE TREES

Native oak trees – White Oak, Red Oak, Chinkapin, Burr and others—support a lot of wildlife. Other native trees—which evolved on our land over thousands of years along with native wildlife—are also good choices. Aside from trying to choose native trees when you can, choose the right size tree for the space, light and water conditions you have. 

FLOWERING SHRUBS

The middle layer, flowering shrubs, support birds and other wildlife, as they provide nectar and fruit, as well as nesting habitat. Easy to grow, and often providing 3-4 seasons of beauty, they are a great first step when thinking about your landscape.

 

SEDGES & OTHER GROUND LAYER PLANTS

Birds and other wildlife need ground layer plants. Sedges are grass-like plants that are native to Illinois. Other ground layer plants include beautiful and unique spring ephemeral plants that flower before the trees leaf out. 

CONEFLOWERS, MILKWEEDS & OTHER FLOWERING PLANTS

Native perennials, such as coneflowers, milkweeds and others, support insects, birds, butterflies and other wildlife. Whenever possible, choose the straight species, rather than a “nativar.” Good nurseries that carry straight species and local ecotypes (seeds taken from plants in native habitats within the Chicago region) include Possibility Place and Natural Garden Natives. You can also look for native plant sales through local chapters of Wild Ones and Forest Preserve Districts.

Taking care of your trees

Don’t “volcano” mulch. Do “donut” mulch. There’s a right and wrong way to mulch your trees. Are you doing it the right way? https://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/tree-plant-care/plant-care-resources/mulching-trees-and-shrubs/  

 

Rain Gardens

Do you have a very wet yard, or areas of standing water after rain storms? Rain gardens are not only beautiful, they can actually keep your basement dryer, if they are designed correctly. Learn more from the University of Wisconsin and Prairie Rivers Network.

Books for Further Reading  

Bringing Nature Home by Doug Tallamy
Plant This, Not That by Charlotte Adelman 
Native Gardens Designs by Patricia Hill 
Prairie Up by Benjamin Vogt
Planting in a Post-Wild World by Claudia West

 

Designing Neighborhoods for People and Wildlife

This video is created by the American Society of Landscape Architects whose mission is to lead, to educate, and to participate in the careful stewardship, wise planning, and artful design of our cultural and natural environments.

Openlands: Conserving Nature for Life

Founded in 1963, Openlands protects the natural and open spaces of northeastern Illinois and the surrounding region to ensure cleaner air and water, protect natural habitats and wildlife, and help balance and enrich our lives.

Get Information About:

Where to Purchase Native Plants, Chemical-Free Lawn Care Products, and Natural Lawn Care

The Conservation Foundation compiled a list of Chicago area stores selling native plants and natural lawn care products at the bottom of this webpage: here.

West Cook Wild Ones has a list of recommendations as well here: westcook.wildones.org/resources/

Two suggestions, among many:

DigRightIn Landscaping, 9100 W. Plainfield Rd., Brookfield, IL 60513, (708) 485-7751, www.digrightin.com

Pure Prairie Organics, 2405 Essington Rd. #61, Joliet, IL 60435, (630) 777-2600, www.pureprairieorganics.com

 

Beyond Pesticides Website

Beyond Pesticides works with allies to protect public health and the environment, leading the transition to a world free of toxic pesticides.

Eco-Sensitive Garden Clean-Up

Conventional garden cleanup removes organic matter and beneficial insects. Stephanie Walquist of Wild Ones West Cook recommends the following books to learn more:

Teaming with Microbes, Lowefels and Lewis
Life in the Soil, Nardi
Farming with Beneficial Insects, Xerces Society
Attracting Native Pollinators, Xerces Society