By Andi Anderson
Supporting pollinators and other wildlife begins with a thoughtful landscape design. Creating vertical layers in home gardens helps provide food, shelter, and space for various animals throughout the year.
Natural systems like forests and prairies offer inspiration. Forests have grasses, flowers, shrubs, and trees that form clear layers. Prairies also show seasonal layering, from early low-growing plants to tall grasses and flowers that bloom later.
Mimicking these layers allows insects to complete their full life cycles and provides shelter for frogs, birds, and small mammals. Keystone tree species play a key role in this process. Trees like oaks, cherries, poplars, pines, and willows support many butterflies, moths, and other beneficial insects.
While planting keystone trees is important, adding layers of shrubs, flowers, and grasses underneath them increases their benefits. Conservationist Heather Holm calls these areas “soft landings.” They include native plants under trees, along with leaf litter and plant debris, providing habitat for insects and wildlife.
Replacing turf grass under trees with native plants also benefits the landscape. Grass often struggles in shade and offers little support for animals. Using native plant plugs avoids root damage and helps trees and wildlife thrive together.
Ferns like maidenhair, lady, and Christmas ferns offer shelter and overwintering spots. Sedges, including Pennsylvania and rosy sedge, and grasses like bottlebrush grass, provide texture and structure.
Flowering plants such as wild columbine, wild geranium, Virginia bluebells, goldenrod, and violets add beauty and resources throughout the seasons.
By adding native plant layers under trees, homeowners can create a healthy, welcoming space for pollinators and wildlife. For help with natural landscaping, contact your local University Extension office.
Photo Credit: pexels-greta-hoffman
Categories: Illinois, General