Wild Back Yards

Seed Planting Instructions Seasonal Yard Tips Grow a Wild Back Yard Attend a Program

Discover the Benefits of a Wild Back Yard!

This year, Summit Metro Parks invites you to explore ways to make small changes in your own yard and make a big impact on local wildlife.

WHY DO WE CARE?

Humans are a part of nature, too. When the plant and animal communities around us are healthy, it helps us thrive as well. Wild Back Yards encourages our community to work together to help wildlife and counteract the effects of habitat loss and habitat fragmentation. At Summit Metro Parks, we’re your back yard. And what you do in your yard can help us make an even bigger impact! Join us to receive more information about Wild Back Yards, with tips and useful guides for your back yard!

GROW A WILD BACK YARD

Help wildlife and earn rewards from the comfort of your own home! We can help with simple actions in our own back yards or adopted gardens. Download a form and track your progress with simple checklists and tips from SMP experts.

LEARN MORE & SIGN UP

SEASONAL YARD TIPS

It may not be planting season yet, but there are steps you can take now to plan your Wild Back Yard. Now through March can be the time to cut back vegetation, plan this year’s garden, install a bluebird house, and consider cutting back on pesticides or lawn applications, especially before rains.

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SEED PLANTING INSTRUCTIONS

Have you received a seed packet from Summit Metro Parks? We’re sharing them for free! This diverse blend of native flowers can be planted to provide critical habitat for pollinators and other wildlife.

HOW TO PLANT SEEDS

ATTEND A PROGRAM

Join Summit Metro Parks for an educational program to learn more about Wild Back Yards! Programs vary by month and may cover gardening tips for home, plant ID, and more! Check our Programs & Events listing and look for the "Wild Back Yards" icon (pictured here).

PROGRAMS & EVENTS

PLANT ID HELP

Find out whether your plants are native to the area! Any of the following identification tools may be helpful in your search:

iNaturalist
USDA Plants Database
BONAP native plant checker

FIND NATIVE PLANTS

Curious about where to find native plants to put in your yard? You can't dig them up from the parks, but you can find them nearby! Below is a list of vendors that have met our criteria as trusted sources for native plants.

SEE PLANT VENDORS