Congratulations on your new home!
That's exciting, and we think that your stone wall and wooded area are lovely. 
Given that it is brand new to you, we suggest living with it for a while to see with time what is there as the seasons progress.
For instance, were there daffodils or other bulbs that bloomed there?
There may be blooming shrubs in the summer or plants that have lovely foliage or colorful leaves in the fall. Try making a rough map of what you have.

Do you know if the previous homeowner was a gardener or did they give you any info on what is there?

It's important to know that 'tidy' does not always mean what is best for environmental health.  We are glad that you contacted us with your question before hiring a company to "tidy" or clear out what is there without identifying it. There is likely much diversity and life within your area that is worth conserving.

We have learned much in recent years that having good biodiversity- a mix of native plants, birds/wildlife and insects, which have co-evolved with other native flora and fauna over eons is best. Native plants need less labor, chemicals, watering, etc., and everyone in Maryland is within the watershed of the Chesapeake Bay.

Non-native invasive plants should be avoided and in many cases, removed. We can see in your photo that someone has cut and stopped invasive English Ivy from climbing one of your mature trees and that is a good thing.
Here is a page that will be helpful: 
https://extension.umd.edu/resources/yard-garden/weeds/invasive-plants

Feel free to send us photos to help you to identify what you have.
You also have a great ExtensionMaster Gardener Program in Anne Arundel that can help with i.d. etc too. See here: 
https://extension.umd.edu/locations/anne-arundel-county/master-gardener-program/master-gardener-projects

If you decide to hire someone to help, be aware that there is a relatively new professional designation called Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional (CBLP) who specialize in sustainable landscapes. You can learn more about them here: 
https://cblpro.org/

Finally, we no longer recommend Vinca/Perwinkle vine. It is beautiful and fine in a home landscape, but ONLY when growth is monitored and kept far from natural areas, as it has invaded natural forested areas and outcompetes native plants that should be there.
Here is our Groundcovers page with more info: 
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/groundcovers

Feel free to send us questions 24/7. We answer them daily, and try to get back to you in a day or two.

Good luck.


Christine

Hello Christine,

Hi, 

You may want to wait to enjoy their blooms this spring and then prune afterwards. Definitely removing any covering brush will help with blooms. 

Vinca in a natural area, is considered invasive and for the biodiversity purposes that Christine had mentioned, you would want to remove it. This can be a tedious task as any pieces of roots left with grow again. If it seems like a manageable quantity, then we would suggest that you attempt to remove it and either see if there are native spring wildflowers or plant some in its place!

Feel free to send in additional photos for questions, as Christine suggested, for the azaleas or dogwood, or other things you may notice. 

Emily

Hello, 

Hi, 

You can start to remove the vinca in sections as long as you are ready to replant, because you are correct in that if the soil is loose and uncovered we could get a heavy rain and it will erode. There is biodegradable erosion cloth like burlap that you can pin down and plant into when you are ready and then mulch on top to hold soil in place. 

Just so you are aware, the plants you listed are not native except the Ostrich Fern. 

Butterfly Bush has shown some invasive habits in certain areas. So you could just keep an eye and see if it re-seeds anywhere. Daylily can spread as well, but if they are the clumping variety they are usually easy to maintain. We do have some native Iris species. Iris versicolor and Iris crestata so unless you know the species they may be an asian or european species - which are not considered invasive here. 

How neat that you found the stone steps and it looks like a great asset to the area and the neat stump turned woodland table!

If the area near the wall receives sun and good drainage, you could try Moss Phlox. It blooms in spring, stays green in winter, deer and rabbits leave it alone and it will cascade beautifully over the wall. 

You can also look at our plant list for shady slopes to research some options. Just keep in mine that what ever you plant, you may have to start with small sizes, like 1 gallon or even plugs (small plants that you can sometimes buy in a flat with quantities of 25, 50 , or 100- more garden centers are allowing purchase of these singly, you just have to seek them out).  

There are some links at the bottom of the webpage for deer resistant plants and our newly updated Groundcover page that could be helpful as well!. 

We would strongly encourage layers of plants - groundcover, perennials and ferns small shrubs and understory trees to create a diverse planting area and attract all kinds of wildlife. Native plants benefit and have co-evolved with native wildlife so using natives is suggested. If you stick to about 70% native plants and cultivars and 30% exotic, that will help create a healthy forest ecosystem and give you a great view in your backyard!

Let us know if you have further questions as you explore the links and plant lists. 

Emily

Hi Doreen, 

If they don't have many flats, they may be able to order them. You can also look for online nurseries that ship. Even if it says wholesale, if you meet a minimum order amount or are willing to go pick them up they could be willing to sell to you. 

Happy to help! 

Emily

Sedum species tend to be easily propagated and woodland stonecrop can spread slowly or be divided easily. Different fern species are helpful to get started and easy to divide as they spread and multiply. Hay scented fern is a quick filler. If you got 3 (1)gallons you could easily have it fill in to divide to other areas. You should also join local gardening groups on social media and see if anyone has anything you are looking for that you could get a chunk of!

Personally, I do not have experience with growing Moss Phlox from seed. All of our plant propagation books state that it is usually divided by stem cuttings. If you find some seeds to try, you may need to stratify them before they start growing. Many spring blooming perennials need a cold period to germinate. 

You can also try to search for some mail order nurseries on the Maryland Native Plant Societies website. 

Emily