COLUMBUS, Ohio — Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is asking residents to reconsider their yards, balconies and window ledges this fall, starting with a simple swap to native plants.
Fall is one of the best times to plant natives, according to the conservatory, because cooler temperatures and steady rainfall help new roots establish before winter. Native species support pollinators and local ecosystems, improve water quality and reduce stormwater runoff with root systems that can grow several feet deep, compared with just a few inches for typical turf grass, the conservatory said. They also cut down on the need for fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides, and residents don’t need to convert an entire yard to make a difference.
“Many regional native shrub and perennial plants do well if planted in the fall with a layer of mulch, because it gives their roots a headstart before the ground freezes,” said Heather Bell, sustainability coordinator at Franklin Park Conservatory, in a statement. “Once the growing season winds down, resist the urge to tidy everything up, since leaving dormant stems and seed heads standing gives insects a place to shelter through winter. You don’t have to overhaul your whole yard to make an impact; even a single native plant in a pot on a windowsill or balcony can act as a bridge for a bee or butterfly traveling between nectar sources.”
The timing lines up with a broader shift in cities and states nationwide, as more governments update outdated weed codes that have inadvertently penalized native, pollinator-friendly landscaping, the conservatory said. Minnesota passed a statewide law in 2023 requiring cities to allow managed natural landscapes, and Pittsburgh’s city council unanimously updated its own code in 2025 to exempt native, pollinator-friendly plantings from height restrictions. Columbus made a similar change, now allowing residents to plant pollinator gardens and native landscaping, including yards that are up to 100% native, and removed milkweed, a critical host plant for monarch butterflies, from its noxious weeds list. Bell recommends posting a small sign explaining a native planting to neighbors, since young and dormant native plants are sometimes mistaken for weeds, according to the release.
The conservatory already maintains an apiary, home to Central Ohio Beekeeper’s Association hives, as a low-mow area, letting growth reach up to 12 inches to support pollinators. It has also expanded native plantings in its Children’s Garden and Mallway in recent years, and this marks its third year participating in the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge with the Columbus Department of Recreation and Parks and the Franklin Soil & Water Conservation District, the conservatory said. Locally, a Waverly church’s 4-acre wildflower and native grass habitat has drawn similar attention from pollinator enthusiasts this year.
“As a botanical garden, we have a unique responsibility and opportunity to help the broader community understand why these small changes matter,” said Bruce Harkey, president and CEO of the conservatory, in a statement. “We want our grounds to be a living example of what’s possible, so that when a visitor sees a pollinator garden here, they leave believing they can grow one of their own.”
The information contained in this story was obtained from Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.
