The gardening scene on Long Island’s North Shore is witnessing a significant shift towards eco-conscious, low-maintenance trends rooted in native plantings and thoughtful landscape design. One of the most notable movements is the adoption of native gardening, which involves using plants that naturally occur in the local ecosystem.
- Native plants offer numerous benefits, including providing habitat and food for pollinators, improving soil health, and requiring less maintenance and water.
- Some residents are taking the native approach to the extreme, adopting “re-wilding” practices that promote ecological gardening and are working with programs like ReWild Long Island.
- The trend is not about abandoning all non-native plants, but rather striking a balance between aesthetics and sustainability.
Kate Walz, a Port Washington-based garden designer and owner of Kate Walz Garden Design, has seen a significant increase in demand for native plants and low-maintenance alternatives. “I think what’s trending now, and it’s sort of been becoming more popular over the past few years, is incorporating more native plants,” she said. “My clients want to have a mix of native plants and non-native plants, but they also want to incorporate a few native species here and there to help with sustainability.”
Some standout species favored in native gardens include:
- Little bluestem grass
- Big blue lobelia
- Mountain mint
These plants contribute to healthier soil through their deep root systems and provide habitat and food for pollinators. They are also less aggressive and require less maintenance compared to non-native plants. In addition to native plants, the North Shore is also seeing a shift towards reconsidering traditional lawns. Some residents are reducing or removing turf grass in favor of native groundcovers or ornamental grasses that require less maintenance and water. “I know a few people who have done that or they’re looking to reduce the size of their lawn,” said Walz. “Maybe they’ll have just a small part, but they want more native grasses to fill in that spot—or a native groundcover—or they just want to extend their garden.”
New alternatives to traditional lawns include creeping thyme, a fragrant, flowering groundcover that spreads slowly and requires little upkeep. Clover and dandelion, once considered weeds, are also gaining popularity for their benefits to soil health and pollinators. “People used to think if you had clover on your lawn, it was messy or full of weeds,” said Walz. “But clover actually fixes nitrogen into the soil. The bees love the flowers and it’s great for the ecosystem.”
Even in small spaces, like apartments or patios, gardening is becoming more accessible. Compact, container-friendly plants and dwarf varieties are gaining ground. “I don’t get a lot of requests personally for apartment gardening,” said Walz, “but I’ve seen more varieties coming out at nurseries that are smaller—dwarf-size versions of plants everyone loves—that can be grown in containers or patios.”
Vegetables are also being bred for small-space gardening, with a focus on compact options for balconies and smaller environments. “There’s definitely a shift toward more compact options for balconies and smaller environments,” said Walz. The surge in edible gardening, fueled by the pandemic, continues to grow. More families are carving out space in their yards for growing their own produce, often with a focus on organic methods and family involvement. “I think COVID was a big shift,” said Walz. “Everybody was home, they actually had time to think about a garden and grow their own food so they didn’t have to go to the grocery store.”
Now, the trend continues, with a focus on teaching children about where food comes from and managing gardens without chemicals or pesticides. “People still want a space where they can grow their own food and also teach their children where food comes from,” said Walz. “They want to manage it themselves—no chemicals, no pesticides. It becomes a family project.”
Beyond plants, the layout of the landscape itself plays a key role in outdoor design. Homeowners are thinking critically about how they want to use their outdoor spaces before planting a single flower. “I think the right way to do it is to plan the hardscape first,” said Walz. “If you want a pool or patio or fire pit, that’s your foundation. Then you can place plants appropriately—for example, screening plants for privacy or something sweet-smelling near where you’ll be sitting.”
A well-planned garden not only looks beautiful but also enhances how a space feels. “If you’re around a fire pit, maybe you want a more enveloping area—with shrubbery and flowers that create a cozy atmosphere,” said Walz. “You’re really complementing the area with your plant choices.”
As more Long Islanders explore sustainable gardening, education remains a key part of changing minds. Many residents are learning to see value in what they once dismissed—from clover and dandelions to messy-looking native plant beds. “A lot of people, when they think of natives, they think wild, messy—like a prairie or the side of the road,” said Walz. “And it certainly can be that.
