Getting Started

Step One — Map Existing Site and Vegetation — Create a base plan and identify the plants you already have.  Are they native? Do they provide food or shelter for wildlife?  Should you keep them or replace them?

Step Two — Identify Environmental Factors — Create a site analysis identifying what you have to offer plants. Map sun, wind, sight, sound, and drainage patterns.

Steps Three and Four — Identify Human and Wildlife Activities and Uses. All wildlife needs food, water, and cover, and specific types of wildlife have additional needs, including a variety of plant species, careful arrangement of plant types, and the addition of feeders, nest boxes, and water features.

Step Five — Design a Native Plant Landscape – Create a design with canopy, shrub, and ground-level habitat in mind. Develop a plant list.

Step Six — Installing and Maintaining a Wildlife-Friendly Landscape: This section covers where to get native plants, how to prepare the site, and how to install the plants, as well as essential maintenance strategies for sustainability.

This content was originally prepared by Dr. Christopher Moorman and Patricia Lindsay.  The initial project was funded by the NC Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program, Renewable Resources Extension Act, and North Carolina State University.

Additional Information

• Managing Backyards and Other Urban Habitats for Birds,
• Butterflies in Your Backyard,
• Landscaping for Wildlife with Native Plants, and
• Reptiles and Amphibians in Your Backyard.

• Landscape Design
• Native Plants
• Wildlife
• Permaculture

• Certificate in Native Plant Studies at UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens
• Certificate in Native Plant Studies at North Carolina Botanical Garden