Autumnal push to grow native plant gardens on Long Island

Temperatures are dipping and leaves are falling, but autumn is still an opportune time to plant native plants in North Hempstead and elsewhere on Long Island, experts say, because of the steady climate and fertile soil.

This time of year "is the best time for planting," said Frank Piccininni, CEO of Spadefoot Designs and Construction, a Huntington company with services including invasive species removal and native landscaping.

"You still have growing season left, but it's milder," he said in an interview. "It's not a drought, it's not summer, so you have a calm, relatively cool, but still-growing season for the plants to get rooted."

North Hempstead stands out in the area for its efforts to promote native planting: It administers a native plant rebate program on behalf of the Nassau County Soil and Water Conservation District. North Hempstead has run the program, which is meant to encourage residents to help the town's environmental efforts, for the past five years. Neither Oyster Bay nor Hempstead — the other towns that  constitute Nassau County — run similar initiatives. 

"Every bit of work an individual does helps us as an entirety," Supervisor Jennifer DeSena said in an interview. "When we have native plants, there's a combination effect. The soil becomes better, it's better for wildlife. It's not just plants."

Ecological benefits

Native plants help promote biodiversity and are adapted to local soil and weather conditions. Experts say they have several ecological benefits, including preserving drinking water and attracting pollinators.

Piccininni said common examples of invasive species — which suppress native plants, require more water for maintenance, and don't provide habitats for other species — on Long Island include tree of heaven, Japanese knotweed and English ivy. 

Jeremiah Bosgang, executive director of the Sands Point Preserve Conservancy, said in an interview the fall is a "very fertile time of year in terms of ground conditions." He said the conservancy recently built a sculpture garden in a meadow, with "several thousands dollars' worth of native plants" around iron sculptures created by the late Long Island artist Jerry Shore.

"It was very labor intensive," Bosgang said. "We're trying to accelerate it to get it done during this window, which is the prime planting season."

Nicholas Thatos, CEO of the Manhasset-based Coastal Technologies Corp., said this time of year is particularly ideal to plant so-called "bare root" plants, which are sold without soil or a pot and with their roots exposed. He said American beachgrass is a common bare root plant native to the area and is often found on shorefront properties.

"They do very well because they are already dormant when you're planting them," Thatos said. "The ground is cold so they stay dormant, and then they just are ready to grow in the spring."

Interest growing

DeSena said the town has planted several native plant gardens at Gerry Pond Park on Main Street in Roslyn.

So far this year, 35 approved applicants have received the $350 rebate from North Hempstead's program, town spokesman Kevin Higgins said in an email. The town typically pushes the program in the spring, DeSena said in an interview, but it is hoping more residents participate this fall.

The program launched in 2021 with 13 participants. Interest has risen steadily every year since: There were 28 rebates issued in 2022, 31 in 2023 and 34 in 2024.

But there remains some opposition to native plant gardens on Long Island. 

Last year, the Village of New Hyde Park issued a summons to a homeowner who participated in the town's rebate program. The summons read: "Failure maint. yard."

The homeowner, Xilin Zhang, and the village eventually agreed to a "conditional dismissal." Zhang agreed to replant her tallest plants in her backyard and regularly trim those in her front yard.

Christopher Devane, the village's mayor, told Newsday in July that Zhang's garden had become "an eyesore."

Piccininni said he was hopeful that native gardens can counteract some of the effects of climate change.

"I view nature as Jenga," Piccininni said. "You can pull bricks out. Pull one out and the tower still stands. You pull two out, the tower still stands. At some point the tower is going to collapse, but humans can actually put the bricks back, too.

"You push in nature's direction, and she responds."

By Joshua Needelman

joshua.needelman@newsday.com

Joshua Needelman covers the Town of North Hempstead for Newsday. A Long Island native and University of Maryland graduate, his work has appeared in publications including The New York Times and The Washington Post.