The following information sheets are available as pdf files:

Nursery topics

• Native plants for urban landscapes - species list for ornamental plantings
• Native flowering perennials for landscaping -  a detailed look at herbaceous perennials with ornamental appeal
• Native flowering shrubs for landscaping - a detailed look at native shrubs for landscapes
• Native plants for screening septic mounds - species list for screening septic mounds including 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 color and winter interest
• Why local genetics? - article on why it is important to choose native plants from local genetic stock
• Plants we do not grow - some plants we do not grow and the reasons why
• Prairie perennials - descriptions of South Sound prairie species
• Forest perennials - descriptions of South Sound forest species
• Woodland perennials - descriptions of South Sound woodland species
• Planting plugs vs. bareroots - lists the advantages of planting trees and shrubs from 10 cu. in. plugs

Please see our catalog for information on more nursery topics

Project planning

• Installation Scheduling - Provides a 21-month schedule of project installation steps, including the planting windows for different plant material stock types
• Fall planting - explains why 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, including 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 (pdf file; print to use)
• 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 - methods to control this woody invasive by manual, mechanical, and chemical means
• Weedwatch: Poison Hemlock, Perennial Pepperweed, Scotch Thistle - brief species descriptions and control options (June 2012)
• Weedwatch: Garlic mustard, Giant hogweed, Goatsrue, Milk thistle - brief species descriptions and control options (June 2011)
• Weedwatch: Saltcedar, Yellow floatingheart, European hawkweed, Traveler's joy, Tree-of-heaven - brief species descriptions (June 2009)
• Weedwatch: Spurge laurel, Reed sweetgrass, Swollen bladderwort, Floating primrose-willow, Pampas grass -  brief species descriptions (June 2008)
• Weedwatch: Policeman's helmet, Yellow archangel, Butterfly bush,Flowering rush, Garlic mustard, Common fennel -  brief species descriptions (Fall 2007)

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
• Prevegetated coir logs - information on improving erosion control and vegetation establishment with prevegetated 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 plans 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

Please see our catalog for more information on vegetation and species selection topics

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 Canada 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