Professional gardener Jess (@youcandoitgardening) had some important advice for one homeowner regarding their chosen application of gravel and landscaping fabric.

"You have fabric here and rocks," Jess said, indicating a section of the yard. "They are obviously not doing the job. There are weeds all over this area!"

@youcandoitgardening This will take time to evolve but the first step is getting rid of those useless rocks. They do not work! They also retain heat and that is not good for the soil and plants. Landscape fabric is also bad for the soil. Use mulch or wood chips instead. They are the lowest maintenance because they break down slowly and act as a slow-release fertilizer. Ideally, the ground is completely covered in plants ("living" mulch). Pollinator plants to consider (these are all perennials, which come back every year): coreopsis, garden phlox, bee balm, butterfly weed, milkweed, obedient plant, balloon flower, asters, goldenrod, coneflower, black-eyed susans (all native to many parts of the US); sedum, Russian sage, catmint, and salvia. (Please add others if you would like to share!) Video done by my client Kate in her yard About me: I'm a garden coach and consultant based in the Boston area (zone 6b) My website to schedule consultations and more: https://www.youcandoitgardening.com #youcandoitgardening #pollinatorgarden #nativeplants #gardening #gardeningtips #gardening101 #gardendesign #landscaping #diylandscaping #gardentok ♬ original sound - You Can Do It Gardening

Instead, Jess recommended that her Boston client dig a trench around the house and fill it with the rock in question. After that, she would plant cinquefoil shrubs, which look great, are native to the area, and enjoy full sun. Then, she would plant catmint and leave the rest to soil and seed.

Other native pollinator-friendly plants Jess suggested were coreopsis, garden phlox, bee balm, butterfly weed, milkweed, obedient plant, balloon flower, asters, goldenrod, coneflower, and black-eyed Susans. The tail end of her video showcased a wide range of native gardens she has worked on.

Landscaping fabric is a plague on just about any garden it is used in. As evidenced by this section of the property, weeds punch through the fabric just fine. In fact, the more plants grow through it, the harder it is to remove, as the fabric becomes tangled in root systems.

Many other experts share Jess's opposition to using landscaping fabric. One highlighted how the fabric disconnects plants from the wider beneficial subsurface ecosystem in an effort to keep weeds out. Another mentioned how the fabric rips over time, polluting the soil with microplastics.

Jess also recommended against stone covering, as it accumulates heat, which can damage anything living on or under the ground. Instead, she suggested natural mulch as a time-delayed fertilizer.

Some TikTok commenters had other native plant options to add to the mix.

"I love Ironweed, Monkey Flower, Cardinal Flower, and Wild indigo . I'll also added some sun loving ferns like Cinnamon Fern," said one community member.

"I just need someone to design it for me," lamented another.

What is the biggest reason you don't grow food at home? Not enough time ⏳ Not enough space 🤏 It seems too hard 😬 I have a garden already 😎 Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.

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