Information Sheets
We are committed to supporting your planty-learning journey!
Sound Native Plants has connected community members with quality and accessible plant-based science for over 30 years. Education has been a pillar of our organization since day one. On this page you'll find online resources on a variety of topics. We also invite you to visit our budding Online Resource Library, where updated learning tools are published.
The following information sheets are available as PDF files. Feel free to download and share, provided that you give due accreditation. Email Info@SoundNativePlants.com with questions.
Downloadable & Sharable PDFs
Nursery Topics
- Where and how to buy native plants - guide to types of native plant materials and where to buy them in western Washington
- Native plants for urban landscapes - species list for ornamental plantings
- Native flowering shrubs for landscaping - a detailed look at native shrubs for landscapes
- Native plants for screening septic mounds - species list and planting maintenance recommendations
- Plants for erosion control and steep slopes - a list of plants that can be used to slow soil erosion and maintain steep slopes
- Fall color - native plants for fall and winter interest
- Why local genetics? - article on why it is important to choose native plants from local genetic stock
- Prairie perennials - descriptions of southern Salish lowland prairie species
- Forest perennials - descriptions of southern Salish lowland forest species
- Woodland perennials - descriptions of southern Salish lowland woodland species
- Native flowering perennials for landscaping - a detailed look at herbaceous perennials with ornamental appeal
- Planting plugs vs. bareroots - lists the advantages of planting trees and shrubs from 10 cu. in. plugs
Project Planning
- Installation Scheduling - provides a 21-month schedule of project installation steps, including the planting windows for different plant material and types
- Fall planting - fall is the best time of year to plant!
- Winter planting - considerations for winter planting
- Plant size - information to help you determine the right size plant material for your project
- Estimating irregular shaped areas - two ways to estimate irregular areas for planning purposes
- Calculating plant quantities/plant spacing guidelines - general guidelines on calculating plant quantities, inc. spacing for low, medium, and high density plantings
- Availability of native plants in western Washington - species, forms, and sizes of native plants generally available
- Plant bid request - a list of information a nursery must have to efficiently bid on your plant list; also includes a bid request template
- Installation bid request - a list of information landscape contractors must have to efficiently bid on your project, to help you get increased and more consistent responses; also includes a bid request template
- Inspecting plant material - be sure the material you receive meets your high expectations
Site Preparation
- Earthwork and site preparation - recommendations on timing, decompaction, habitat features, and weed control
- Mulches - table outlining functions, recommended depth, sources, and costs for various mulch materials (wood chips, bark, straw, etc.)
- Compost - descriptions of various products available and a discussion on different types of applications
- Compost socks - an explanation of this erosion control technique, including installation specifics
- Girdling trees - an overview of how girdling works, the best tools to use and which species can be girdled
- Soil treatments - drawbacks and benefits for fertilizers, amendments, and mulches to help you choose the best treatment for your project site
- Limiting soil compaction - reduce impact on a planting site through comprehensive site assessment, planning and scheduling, and low-impact practices and techniques
- Restoring compacted soils - foster a healthier soil through mulch, soil amendments and various decompaction methods
Weed Control
- Weed control by goats - what weed species are eaten, how it works and contact information for local companies
- Weed control: English ivy - descriptions of the damage English ivy does to other vegetation and to steep slopes, plus how to remove
- Weed control: Field bindweed - various control methods by mechanical, light limitation and chemical means
- Weed control: Herb Robert - various control methods for this newer invader
- Weed control: Himalayan blackberry - strategies for control
- Weed control: Invasive knotweeds - strategies for control for various invasive knotweed species prevalent in western Washington
- Weed control: Reed canarygrass - methods to control this aggressive wetland non-native by mechanical, chemical, and competitive means
- Weed control: Scotch broom - manual, mechanical, and chemical methods to control
- Weedwatch: Poison Hemlock, Perennial Pepperweed, Scotch Thistle - species descriptions and control options
- Weedwatch: Garlic mustard, Giant hogweed, Goatsrue, Milk thistle - species descriptions and control options
- Weedwatch: Saltcedar, Yellow floatingheart, European hawkweed, Traveler's joy, Tree-of-heaven - species descriptions
- Weedwatch: Spurge laurel, Reed sweetgrass, Swollen bladderwort, Floating primrose-willow, Pampas grass - species descriptions
- Weedwatch: Policeman's helmet, Yellow archangel, Butterfly bush, Flowering rush, Garlic mustard, Common fennel - species descriptions
Vegetation
- Evaluating plant health before planting - how to inspect the plants you ordered to decide if they are healthy stock
- Marine shoreline species - a list of plant species that commonly occur on marine shorelines and bluffs
- Emergents - habitat and wildlife value of common emergent plant species
- More Emergents - habitat and wildlife value of additional emergent species
- Information on live stakes and cuttings - overview of types of material, how to order and handle the material, and tips for success
- Willow live stakes in reed canarygrass - a King County study on the ideal size for live stakes to restore reed canaryrgrass dominated wet meadows
- Role of vegetation in slope stability - the various ways vegetation helps to stabilize slopes
- Salvaging native plants - recommended species to target, equipment needed and other details helpful for staging a successful salvage operation
- Pre-vegetated coir logs - information on improving erosion control and vegetation establishment with pre-vegetated logs made from woven coconut fiber
- The challenges of establishing Pacific madrone - describes the fungal diseases to which madrone is susceptible and suggests the types of planting sites that may increase success rates
- Restoration superstars - these plants perform well over a wide variety of site conditions
- Grass control to improve cottonwood survival - a King County study evaluating the effects of spraying grass and watering on cottonwood live stake survival in a sunny, sandy loam site
- Effects of plant spacing on establishment success - a study comparing the effectiveness of clumped versus evenly spaced salt marsh emergent plantings
Soils
- Native soils of western Washington - basic overview of the derivation and characteristics of soils of western Washington
- Limiting soil compaction - reduce impact on a planting site through comprehensive site assessment, planning and scheduling, and low-impact practices and techniques
- Restoring compacted soils - foster a healthier soil through mulch, soil amendments and various decompaction methods
Installation
- Plant storage and care on site - as you are getting ready to receive plants at your installation site, consider how to best care for them until they go in the ground
- Planting tips - recommendations on planting depth, root disturbance, watering in, and staking; link to planting video and brochure produced by WSU Cooperative Extension: Plant it Right
- Plant protectors - information on protecting plants from wildlife and the benefits of tree shelters
- Weed cloth - installation specifics and uses of weed cloth (also known as landscape fabric)
- Erosion control fabric - information on various types of products available and installation specifics
- Installing live stakes - instructions and tips for planting live stakes
- What to do about beavers!?! - ecological role of beavers, effects on restoration projects and how you can protect your plantings
- What to do about geese!?! - the effects on restoration projects by geese and how you can protect your plantings
- Fascine installation - how and why to use fascines for site stabilization projects
- Summer irrigation - descriptions and recommendations of irrigation systems for summer watering, especially important for spring plantings
Stormwater Management
- Catching Rain #1: Low Impact Development Overview - the first in a series of handouts on green stormwater infrastructure required for most new developments under federally-mandated regulations.
- Catching Rain #2: New LID regulations - an overview of the new stormwater regulations currently being implemented in Washington State
- Catching Rain #3: LID development process - guide for real estate professionals on the LID development process
- Catching Rain #4: Pervious pavement maintenance - how to keep your permeable surfaces functioning properly
- Catching Rain #5: Rain garden maintenance - how to keep your rain garden functioning properly
- Catching Rain #6: Rain garden construction checklist - steps to make sure your rain garden is built correctly so it works as intended
- Catching Rain #7: Rain garden construction sequencing - proper planning and project phasing can make the difference between success and failure
- Green roofs - an overview of green roofs and plants that work well
- Rainwater harvesting - the practice of collecting and storing rainwater for household or irrigation uses
- Rain garden design - 4 steps to creating a successful rain garden
General
- Irrigation systems for restoration and mitigation sites - paper presented at the 2003 SER/SWS Northwest Chapter Annual Meeting
- Restoring Washington: One native plant at a time - article discussing the restoration work performed by Sound Native Plants, published in the WA Farm Bureau's Spring 2008 issue of 'Neighbors'
- Estimating slope - slope terminology and estimation methods
- Wetland buffers - explanation of the ecological functions and importance of wetland buffers as well as various permit requirements
- Wetland delineations - explanation of a "jurisdictional" wetland and the wetland delineation process
- Shoreline and wetland permit variances - explanation of the types and conditions of permit variances
- Priority habitats - overview of what priority habitats are and how these areas are regulated
- Priority species - explanation of priority species and the regulations that apply
- Restoration resources for projects on private land - an overview of public programs providing grants and other resources for restoration projects performed on private land
- What is native? - basic overview of plant taxonomy and how we define the "native" in Sound Native Plants
- Native demonstration gardens in western Washington - a list of gardens in our area that are open to the public and offer interpretive resources - visit these gardens to learn native plant identification
- Indicators of potentially unstable slopes - focuses on hydrophilic (water-loving) vegetation and the effects of moving water on soil
- References and resources - list of field guides, organizations, periodicals, and books that we have found more or less useful on native plants, native plant gardening, and landscape management topics