How to Get Started
Imagine for a moment…
Imagine transforming your outdoor space into a stunning, sustainable native garden. Not only will it be designed with your personal tastes and your garden’s unique characteristics in mind, but you’ll also receive expert guidance every step of the way.
Whether you’ve got a tight little side yard or a whole front lawn begging for transformation, we’re here to help you turn it into something beautiful, ecological, and totally doable.
We’ve broken our services into five simple steps. No pressure to do it all at once—you can jump in wherever you are.
Plan → Prep → Plant → Steward → Share
PLAN
Start with a clear, custom plan—designed for you and your space.
Our Consultation with Garden Action Plan is the first step in bringing your native garden to life. Whether you’re dreaming big or just figuring out where to begin, this is your launchpad.
Here’s how it works:
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Book your consultation on our website
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We’ll follow up to schedule your site visit and send a quick garden questionnaire
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A member of our team visits your garden to assess sun, soil, and existing conditions, and talk through your goals (typically 30–60 minutes)
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Afterward, we’ll send you your personalized Garden Action Plan.
What’s in the plan:
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Instructions on how to prep your space for planting
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Diagram of your garden to help visualize planting areas and break up your overall space into manageable sections
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Curated list of native plants chosen to fit your space
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Plant placing guidelines that correspond with your plant list
Once you’ve got the plan, you can get to work—or move on to the next step with us.
PREP
Now, it’s time to get your hands dirty.
Your Action Plan will walk you through how to get your space ready for planting, but we’re also here if you need help.
You can:
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DIY – Get all of the prep work done yourself. Way to go!
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DWY (Done With You) – Book a Garden Together session. We’ll come work alongside you—removing weeds, reshaping beds, getting things ready—and share tips as we go.
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DFY (Done For You) – Hire our Garden Stewardship crew to handle the prep for you. This service is taken on a case-by-case basis. If you’re interested in this option we can assess at our site visit and give you a quote.
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Have a landscaping company? We can also offer instruction on how to prep the space with them in mind, and work with them to get the space ready to go.
PLANT
Time to plant!
You’ve prepped the space. Now you’ve got options:
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Planting Service – We’ll source the plants, deliver them, and install everything for one flat rate. Want to learn as we go? We’d love to have you join us for planting!
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DIY – You can source your own plants at the resources we recommend. We also offer a Plant Sourcing Service at a reduced cost from our own planting service (email us for more information). You do the planting, and we’re still here to help you out!
Our planting seasons are in spring (Apr-June) and fall (Sept-Oct). We can schedule your planting for either season, depending on which works best for your timing and site prep plans.
STEWARD
Keep it growing.
Caring for a native garden looks different than traditional landscaping—and we think that’s a good thing. You’ll learn to work with the seasons, not against them.
In addition to all the information you get with our Consultation and Planting Services, we have free resources to help you along the way.
You can also email us photos or questions any time. We really do want to hear how things are going, and can troubleshoot anything you come across while your plants are establishing– we’ve got tips for weeds, bunnies, flooding or anything your plants encounter!
SHARE
Sharing is part of how native plants work—seeds move, stories spread, and things grow in unexpected places.
So stay curious. Share what you’re learning with your friends and neighbors. Trade seeds. Talk about what’s showing up in your garden. Tell someone about that plant that surprised you this spring.
And if you feel like it, send us updates. We love seeing what’s happening out there and hearing updates on your garden. You can always contact us at letsgrow@northbranchnatives.com.
Our Favorite Kinds of Projects
Sustainable, Pollinator-Friendly Gardens
Looking to support local wildlife while enhancing the beauty of your yard? We specialize in creating gardens that attract pollinators, improve biodiversity, and look gorgeous year-round.
Upcycling Your Existing Space
Got a garden that needs a refresh? We love working with homeowners who want to breathe new life into their outdoor spaces, using sustainable, native plants that complement what’s already there.
Family-Friendly Gardens
Creating a safe and beautiful space for your family? We can design a garden that’s low-maintenance, eco-friendly, and a perfect space for kids to explore and play.
“We absolutely love the presentation of the Consultation with the pictures, categorized lists, and detailed instructions. All of the plants look really beautiful and interesting and I am especially excited about the chokeberry shrubs!” –Brittany S., Belmont Cragin, Chicago
"Gardening with native plants has transformed my yard. Personally, it's brought me so much joy. NBN has taught me that a garden can constantly evolve and has given me the confidence to experiment each season. AND, I'll always have something to look forward to!" —Dana D., Jeff Park, Chicago
“As always, thank you, from the bottom of my heart. I truly could never have done it by myself. Hopefully I will be able to tend well what you have sown.” –Cindy N., North Park, Chicago
Want to hear more garden success stories? Click here to read about how Ryn M. of Jeff Park transformed her backyard lawn into a pollinator haven!