Gardening in Cleveland starts at ground level. Refresh the lawn, rethink the beds and make room for plants that work harder indoors and out. From native blooms to houseplant boosts, these moves set up a better growing season ahead.
Plant With Purpose
Meadow City Native Plant Nursery grew from a simple idea: Northeast Ohio yards can do more. Its selection of native plants helps homeowners shrink high-maintenance lawn space and replace it with blooms birds and pollinators require. With more than 100 species available, it’s a go-to stop in Cleveland’s Waterloo Arts District neighborhood for gardeners ready to plant with purpose.
“We really wanted to help people create habitats in their yards and support birds and pollinators that have been seeing a lot of decline due to habitat loss,” says co-owner Julie Slater.
Founded by three friends who met at The Ohio State University School of Environment and Natural Resources, the nursery grew from restoration and environmental science backgrounds — and a shared belief that local yards can play a bigger role in supporting wildlife. When they couldn’t find enough native plants for their own projects, they started growing them themselves.
A practical mindset carries into the shopping experience. Plants are organized by growing conditions like wet soil, shade and full sun — and then by bloom time, making it easier to build a yard that looks good across the seasons. “We want to take some of the work out of it,” Slater says.
While you’re in Waterloo, make a loop of it with nearby Six Shooter Coffee, Doinks Burger Joint and Citizen Pie. Turns out planting season pairs well with lunch.
Keep in mind First Fridays and hit up Meadow City beforehand.
>>Where to start? Some of Ohio’s best-known garden stars are native already, including purple coneflower and black-eyed Susan. Slater also points to cardinal flower for bold red color, native hibiscus for oversized tropical-looking blooms, milkweed for monarch butterflies and eastern redbud for spring color and early nectar for bees.
Spring Cleaning
Before the flowers pop and patios fill, Steve Safreed says spring success starts with the basics: cleanup, soil health and timing. As a store market manager for Kurtz Bros., he says this season is an ideal window to reset what winter left behind.
Clear the way: Pick up debris, branches and winter leftovers from beds and lawn areas. Then tackle turf. “Take advantage of the shoulder seasons,” Safreed says, calling spring a prime time to aerate and overseed. Cooler temperatures and seasonal moisture give grass seed a stronger chance to establish before summer heat arrives.
Mulch moves: Beyond aesthetics, mulch helps suppress weeds and locks in moisture as temperatures rise. Take topdressing to the lawn by replacing fertilizer with compost as an eco-friendly alternative or supplement. Mix seed with compost to boost early growth.
“Success with growing plants begins with what lies beneath,” Safreed points out.
Small space refresh: Think vertical. Containers with varied heights, textures and color make patios and porches feel more finished. Use the classic thriller, filler, spiller formula: one taller focal plant, fuller mid-level blooms and trailing greenery to soften the edges.
Other popular upgrades include compact water features, smokeless fire pits and portable one- or two-person spas that fit tighter footprints. “We’re seeing more tranquil spots,” Safreed says, pointing to vibes that are less flashy and more relaxing. “Trends are a Pantonal earth-tone refresh, more muted in sand colors.”
Meet Your Green Match
Green thumb, black thumb — avid growers and the botanically challenged can unite at River Plant Co., where more than 75 varieties of houseplants tucked among gifts bear easy-to-get care tags. There’s no guesswork at this Rocky River shop, where founder Jennifer Hihn likes to remind visitors, “It’s never too late to start the day over.”
This is exactly what drew her to open the business in 2019, at first from her home. “I started by handpainting pots and stamping messages on them,” relates Hihn, who transitioned to pop-up shops, a Lake Road outpost and now a 3,000 square-foot neighboring space that is stocked with greenery, garden books, candles, Sugarboo & Co. décor, tea towels, cards and more.
It’s a happy place with a party room for events to share the joy for a book-club meeting or terrarium workshop.
Hihn makes houseplants, and shopping for them, completely approachable. Cue the coffee station and treats for visiting dogs. “Everyone comments on the calm vibe,” she relates.
This same nature is how Hihn and staff help guests select houseplants.
Where to start? Hihn likes to start new plant parents with beginner-friendly picks such as snake plants, ZZ plants, Pothos, philodendrons and peperomias.
Need pet-safe options? Look at peperomias, spider plants, calatheas and prayer plants, she suggests.
Ready for a challenge? Hihn points adventurous growers toward begonias, alocasia and pitcher plants.
The biggest mistakes she sees: over-watering, allowing plants to get rootbound (time for a bigger pot) and not enough natural light. “Bring in a photo of the room where the plant will live so we can match the right plant to the right conditions,” Hihn advises.