Anacostia Community Greening

50 native plants along with design layouts and instructions
to benefit wildlife and reduce stormwater runoff

Help protect the Anacostia River Watershed with Native Plants!

Nature Forward is giving away 50-plant pollinator kits in Spring 2025 to people who live within the Northwest Branch or Northeast Branch of the Anacostia Watershed. Limit one free kit per household.

Garden kits must be used to convert lawn or non-native plants. To qualify, you must live within the Northwest Branch or Northeast Branch (including Paint Branch) of the Anacostia Watershed. 

Zoom into the map to see whether you qualify! 


Map created by the Anacostia Watershed Society

With just 50 square feet of lawn, you can use your Garden Kit
to create a native plant garden that supports pollinators and
slows stormwater before it enters the Anacostia.

  • 50 tough, deer-resistant native pollinator plants (choice of a kit for sunny or shady conditions); enough for the 50 sq ft garden

  • 4 garden designs to choose from along with easy-to-follow instructions

  • Advice about site preparation and plant care

  • A yard sign to promote the importance of native plant gardening to the watershed and our environment

Note: This material is based on work supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Assistance Agreement No. 4H-CB96397501) and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund, which promotes community-based efforts to develop conservation strategies to protect and restore the diverse natural resources of the Chesapeake Bay.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if I live in the correct watershed?

Click the map to see the boundaries of the Northwest and Northeast Branch Watersheds.

I don’t live in the NW or NE Branch Watershed. Can I get a kit?

No. This program is only for residents of these watersheds. But check out natureforward.org/native-plant-gardening for information on garden consults and plant sales open to residents of other watersheds.

How will I get my kit?

Your kit will be available for pick up at a location near you. We’ll contact you by email to let you know when and where to pick up your kit! If you are signing up in fall or winter for a spring kit, the pickup date will be in late April or early May. If you are signing up in spring or summer for a fall kit, this pickup date will be in October. For people who cannot come to their assigned date, we’ll find other options to make it work!

What if the kit that I wanted is sold out?

This is a two-year program. More kits will be available in the Spring and Fall of 2026.

Where are these plants from, and how big are they?

The kits are plugs grown by North Creek Nursery in Pennsylvania. They are small and easy to plant but they are in a rapid growth phase, so they will get bigger fast!

What species are these plants?

Every season is a little different, depending on availability. All plants will be native to our region, most will be flowering, and they will be between 1’ and 3’ tall at maturity.

How do I convert my lawn to a garden? Can I just plant them in my existing garden beds?

This project’s goal is to convert areas with low habitat value and low stormwater absorption into spaces with high habitat value and high stormwater absorption. With that in mind, we’re focusing on lawns or spaces that currently have non-native plants. About a month before your scheduled delivery, you will receive detailed instructions on how to prepare the planting area. No special supplies are needed.  

I would love a kit but I don’t know how to plant/garden. Can you help?

Yes! Our kits come with easy-to-follow directions that will help you get started. You’ll receive a garden layout and a plan for planting. You will also get information on plant care and maintenance. Nature Forward will provide planting demonstrations when you come to pick up your kit, and we can answer your questions!

The area I have in mind for my garden is not completely sunny or completely shady.
Will the plants grow in these conditions?

The native plants that we selected for your Garden Kit do well under a range of conditions. As long as you have 50 square feet of lawn to convert, you can be confident that things will work out!

If my garden is very wet (or very dry), will the kit work for me?

These kits will not work in a wetland or permanent standing water. However, these plants are designed to do well in conditions ranging from typically dry to typically moist.

I have a lot of deer. Are you sure they won’t eat my plants?

Will a deer take a bite? Maybe, but it probably won’t come back for more. We’ve tested these plants in our gardens and are confident that deer don’t like them!