We recommend that you work with a consultant who has experience using native plants, such as a Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional; they are trained in using sustainable landscaping techniques. The site conditions need to be evaluated in order to choose the most suitable species that will thrive with minimal input (though any new planting should be watered as needed while it establishes, even for drought-tolerant species). Site conditions to assess include summer sun exposure, soil type and drainage, and vulnerability to deer browsing. Weeding and removing invasive species will likely be a long-term task, though less tedious as the new plants gets more established and fill in.

You can begin research into pollinator gardening and native plant use in home landscapes through the linked web resources. We do not provide exhaustive plant lists (as Maryland is home to well over a thousand native plant species, though not all are suitable to home gardens), but you can use conditions like sunlight, soil moisture, deer, etc., to narrow-down which species to consider.

Miri