Gardens & Native Plants in Springfield, VA

Gardens & Native Plants for Springfield Homes

Deer pressure in Fairfax County is heavy, and browse is especially hard near Lake Accotink Park, stream valley parks and wooded common areas like those in Newington Forest. Azaleas, hostas, tulips and arborvitae often get eaten. Garden pros focus on plants deer tend to skip: hellebores, ornamental grasses, Russian sage, catmint, lavender, daffodils and Japanese andromeda, along with natives deer usually leave alone. Fencing or repellents can help, but plant choice does most of the work.

Native plants are a strong choice in Springfield. Redbud, serviceberry, dogwood, sweetbay magnolia, inkberry, winterberry, Virginia sweetspire, spicebush, black-eyed Susan, coneflower, little bluestem, switchgrass, mountain mint and asters thrive in local conditions. Christmas fern, Pennsylvania sedge and golden ragwort fill shady spots under mature oaks. Replacing invasive English ivy, Japanese stiltgrass and porcelain berry with natives improves habitat and cuts maintenance.

Rain gardens catch roof and driveway runoff in shallow planted basins so water soaks in instead of rushing downhill. Lake Accotink has filled with sediment carried by runoff from developed land upstream, so slowing water on each lot helps the watershed. The Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District runs the Virginia Conservation Assistance Program (VCAP), and some projects may qualify; check rules. Rain gardens in clay need careful sizing and amended soil so they drain within a day or two. Call to plan a garden.