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Inherited Overgrown Native Yard #925173

Asked February 27, 2026, 6:05 PM EST

I recently purchased my first house in Minneapolis which came with, a well loved but not well maintained, overgrown natively planted yard. Prior to winter we did some thinning of the buckthorn and hackberry volunteers which were easy to identify and remove with a weed wrench. I'm excited to get my hands dirty this coming year, and interested in regaining some control over the overgrown landscaping. We love the idea of keeping a natively planted yard but are having trouble figuring out where to start without going scorched earth. What initial steps would you take to inventory what's already there and begin some thinning/removal responsibly?

Hennepin County Minnesota

Expert Response

Congratulations on buy your first house! 

From the photo attached, I see what you mean when you say this probably once lovely yard was not maintained. Native gardens have to tended just like any other garden. 

I can see Monarda and heliopsis in the photo along with what looks like more scrub trees. 

Expect that this process will take a couple years. You will first want to see a whole growing season to find out what all is in there. Some things you can take out immediately and others perhaps remove some of it and leave some of it.

You don’t have to clear the whole yard and start over. Start with what you have and then you can clean it out and interplant some varieties of native that you like. Pay special attention to mature height and bloom time. You ideally want to have something blooming from spring to fall. 

You may also see some surprises this spring when the snow melts.

Good luck and have fun with it. Don’t break your back - do it in steps.

https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-news/native-plants-minnesota-gardens

https://extension.umn.edu/find-plants/native-plants

Deb Reierson Replied March 01, 2026, 6:53 PM EST

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