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Replanting your Schoolyard Garden

Posted by tbriery on

Garden dieback happens for many reasons—intense heat, drought, flooding, pests, soil compaction, or simply age. Replanting is an opportunity to refresh your schoolyard green spaces, support local biodiversity, and engage students and community members in hands-on stewardship.

This guide offers clear steps and plant recommendations to help you bring your garden back to life. All groups—PTAs, custodial engineers, teachers with students, and neighborhood volunteers—can use this resource. Funding is available through our annual mini-grant, along with other NYC grant opportunities for school gardening.

1. Assess What Survived

Before removing anything, take stock:

  • Identify what’s still healthy (even if it looks rough, many perennials bounce back).
  • Check for root health: gently tug—if roots hold firm, the plant may recover.
  • Note environmental issues: standing water, compacted soil, deep shade, vandalism, or irrigation gaps.

This assessment helps you choose tougher, better-suited replacements.

2. Remove Weeds + Dead or Diseased Material

Clear out:

  • Weeds
  • Dead annuals
  • Perennials that no longer show any living stems or roots
  • Shrubs or small trees with brittle branches and peeling bark
  • Any material showing fungal rot, mold, or infestation

Dispose of diseased material in the trash, not compost.

3. Improve the Soil Before Replanting

Healthy soil = healthy plants. Before adding new plants:

  • Loosen compacted soil 6–8 inches deep
  • Mix in compost (1–2 bags per 4×8 bed is typical)
  • Add wood mulch around the base of shrubs and trees to retain moisture
  • For planters, add to the soil each spring

If stormwater pooling caused the dieback, consider raising beds or choosing flood-tolerant plants.

4. Choose Resilient, Low-Maintenance Plants for NYC Schoolyards

Here are reliable species that handle heat, cold, and student traffic:

Perennials

  • Black-eyed Susan
  • Echinacea (Coneflower)
  • Nepeta (Catmint)
  • Yarrow
  • Hosta (for shade)
  • Heuchera (Coral Bells)

Shrubs

  • Itea (Sweetspire)
  • Summersweet (Clethra)
  • Serviceberry (great for wildlife)
  • Dogwood shrubby varieties
  • Boxwood or Inkberry (evergreen structure)

Native Grasses

  • Little Bluestem
  • Switchgrass
  • Prairie Dropseed

Pollinator Annuals

  • Marigolds
  • Zinnias
  • Sunflowers
  • Cosmos

If your school has stormwater infrastructure (rain gardens, bioswales, permeable pavers), we can help with a green-infrastructure-specific plant list too.

Here’s a larger list from our landscape architect of plant’ss she’s seen do well in our NYC schoolyards:

Urban Tolerant Plant ListDownload

5. Replant Thoughtfully

  • Space plants according to their mature size
  • Water deeply at planting
  • Add 2–3 inches of mulch
  • Label the plants so students learn as they grow
  • Engage classes or volunteers in a planting day event

6. Plan for Summer Care

Summer is when most dieback occurs. Build a simple plan:

  • Rotate watering among PTA members, students, teachers, or community partners
  • Communicate with custodial staff to get summer support if possible, coordinate access to hose and hose bib key
  • Choose drought-tolerant species if consistent watering is not available
  • Add mulch before school ends to retain moisture

7. Apply for Funding

Replanting projects can be supported by:

I can generate a one-page “Funding Menu” if you want.

8. Involve Students and the Community

For long-lasting success, involve the people who use the spaceFor long-lasting success, involve the people who use the space:

  • Create grade-level stewardship roles
  • Host seasonal planting or cleanup events
  • Incorporate the garden into curriculum (science, art, literacy, climate education)
  • Let older students lead care routines for younger groups

Need a Customized Replanting Plan?

Contact us with pics of your garden beds, goals, challenges, and dreams and we can help you create:

  • A site-specific planting plan
  • Subject-specific stewardship activities
  • A maintenance plan
  • A parent/teacher volunteer signup template

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