By Cindy Weiner, Butte County Master Gardener, September 25, 2015
Water the plant every 3 to 4 days for the first month after planting. Let the ground dry out a bit between waterings. Dig down a few inches to check if the soil is still moist. If it is, wait another day or two and check again. After a month, switch to irrigating once a week and continue this schedule through the first spring and summer, discontinuing when the next rainy season begins. You can also mist the plants with water occasionally to wash dust from the leaves. During the second spring and summer, switch to a schedule of irrigating once every two weeks or once a month.
After the second summer, most natives will be fully established. Those natives that are fully drought tolerant will no longer need supplemental irrigation except during dry winters. Others will continue to need supplemental irrigation. You'll need to research the cultural requirements of your native plants in order to decide whether to continue irrigation. Consider where the plant grows naturally. If the plant is native to coastal fog belts, mountain forests or riparian zones, it will require extra water during summer and fall. If it's native to the Central Valley or Sierra or inland coastal range foothills, it's probably drought tolerant.
Getting your native garden off to a good start will help make your garden sustainable for the long term.
By Cindy Weiner, Butte County Master Gardener, September 11, 2015.
While it's certainly possible to start native perennials, shrubs and trees from seed, most people buy plants that are growing in pots to transplant to the yard.
Most natives are adapted to well-drained soils with little nitrogen. In fact, some natives cannot tolerate nitrogen-rich soils. Generally, no amendments are necessary except to improve drainage. If your soil is very heavy, choose natives that are adapted to clay soils or dig in some ordinary topsoil to form mounded areas that will drain better. Organic amendments like compost may be necessary if you are planting in a new development where the topsoil has been removed by grading.
Unfortunately, native plants are just as susceptible as non-native ornamentals to damage from pocket gophers. If you have gophers in your yard, consider planting in wire baskets that protect the roots until your plant is established.
Mulching the planted area will help retain moisture and suppress weeds. Add 2 to 3 inches of mulch, keeping it 6 inches away from the base of the plant. If you are using organic mulch (such as bark), it will need to be renewed periodically as it breaks down.
Paying careful attention to the planting process will give your native plants a good start.