Plant a yard that suits Greene County.
A homeowner's guide to what grows well here, when to plant it and how to plant it right, from Xenia and Beavercreek to Yellow Springs and Cedarville. Every recommendation links to an Ohio agency, a university or another source you can check yourself.
What grows well here
Plants native to Ohio are the place to start. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources keeps lists of natives suited to landscape use, sorted by habitat, from prairie to upland woods to wetland.
Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Natural Areas and Preserves, checked 2026-10-26USDA’s PLANTS database has records in Greene County itself for 83 of the 128 Ohio natives on our plant list.
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, checked 2026-10-26Look up your hardiness zone by ZIP code on the USDA map before you buy. Zones are based on the average coldest winter temperature.
USDA Agricultural Research Service, checked 2026-10-26When to plant, season by season
One young serviceberry through the year, and what to do for it in each season.
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Spring
Early spring, before buds break, is a planting window.
- Plant trees and shrubs while they are still dormant. International Society of Arboriculture (TreesAreGood.org)
- Call 811 at least two working days before you dig. State of Ohio
- In bloom: Virginia bluebells, wild columbine, redbud and serviceberry. NC State Extension
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Summer
Keep new plantings watered.
- Water new trees and shrubs at least weekly when it doesn’t rain, more when it’s hot or windy. International Society of Arboriculture (TreesAreGood.org)
- Keep mulch at 2 to 3 inches and off the trunk. Ohio State University Extension, Buckeye Yard & Garden onLine
- In bloom: butterfly milkweed, purple coneflower and wild bergamot. NC State Extension
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Fall
After leaf drop is the other planting window.
- Plant trees and shrubs once the leaves have dropped. International Society of Arboriculture (TreesAreGood.org)
- Keep watering new plantings until mid-fall. International Society of Arboriculture (TreesAreGood.org)
- In bloom: New England aster, goldenrods and witch-hazel. NC State Extension
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Winter
Protect young trees and plan next year.
- Guard young trunks from rabbits with ¼-inch hardware cloth, 18 to 24 inches tall. University of Missouri Extension
- Use tree tubes or wraps where bucks rub antlers. University of Maryland Extension
- Pick next year’s plants from the native plant list, matched to sun and soil. Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Natural Areas and Preserves
Sources for the seasonal notes were checked 2026-10-26.
The guides
Seven short guides, each with a drawing of the technique and a source for every recommendation.
- Native plants for Greene County yards How to match Ohio-native plants to sun, shade, wet and dry spots in a Greene County yard, using lists from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Read the guide
- Trees for small yards, and where not to plant them Small Ohio-native trees for small yards, with utility clearances from AES Ohio and the International Society of Arboriculture, and Ohio’s call-before-you-dig law. Read the guide
- Planting and mulching a tree the right way Step-by-step tree and shrub planting: timing, hole size, root flare, wrapping, mulch depth, why volcano mulching hurts trees, and how much to water. Read the guide
- Rain gardens and drainage basics How to site, test, size, dig and plant a rain garden with Ohio-native plants, plus simple ways to move water away from the house. Read the guide
- Simple hardscape basics: edging, a gravel path and a patio base Plain steps for laying out edging, a gravel path and a patio base: path widths, layout, digging safely under Ohio law, slope and drainage. Read the guide
- Deer- and rabbit-resistant choices Ohio-native plants rated deer- or rabbit-resistant by ODNR and university extension services, plus fencing, cages and repellent tips. Read the guide
- Invasive plants to remove, and what to plant instead Ohio’s official invasive plant list (Ohio Administrative Code 901:5-30-01), the listed plants most likely in a home landscape, and native replacements suggested by the Ohio Invasive Plants Council and ODNR. Read the guide
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