How Does Permaculture Plan For Plant Succession?

“I’ve recently started practicing permaculture on a small-scale in my backyard garden in Hamilton, Canada. I’m curious about plant succession—how does it work, how should I plan for it, and what do I need to know to keep my garden thriving over time? My tomatoes did great last year, but I’m lost on how to plan for future seasons. Any advice?” Thanks, John, Hamilton, Canada.

What is Plant Succession in Permaculture?

Plant succession is nature’s way of gradually evolving a piece of land over time. In permaculture, it’s all about understanding and working with this natural process to create a sustainable ecosystem in your garden. Think of plant succession as the stages a piece of land goes through when left undisturbed—starting from bare soil to a complex forest. Each stage nurtures certain plants that thrive and make way for new species that carry the cycle further.

In your backyard, this means thoughtfully planning which plants you grow and when, considering how their growth, decline, and eventual replacement contribute to the health of the overall system. In a nutshell, succession helps you maintain a productive and resilient garden without constantly fighting nature. Instead, you’re partnering with it!

The Stages of Plant Succession

You can break plant succession down into several stages. Let’s take a quick stroll through each one so you can start thinking about which plants fit where in your garden.

1. Bare Soil – The Start of Something Big

It all starts with bare soil. This could be from clearing a plot or the natural starting condition of your land. It might seem barren, but bare soil is ready to host the first life forms that will pave the way for more complex ecosystems. These might include hardy pioneer species that don’t need much soil nutrition, like weeds or grasses.

2. Pioneer Plants – Nature’s Groundbreakers

Pioneer plants are the first to everything—first to root, first to grow, first to take nutrients from the soil. They’re the hardy weeds, grasses, and annuals that get the ball rolling. These plants require minimal resources and help break up compacted soil while adding organic matter as they die back. Dandelions, clovers, and rye can be great pioneers in your garden. They make the soil richer for the next stage of growth.

3. Herbaceous Plants – Spreading Roots and Growth

Herbaceous plants follow the pioneers, growing both in girth and in the benefits they provide to the soil. Think of them as the “muscle” of the garden—they establish roots, shade the soil, retain moisture, and leave nutrients behind as mulch. These plants could include roots like chicory or taprooted plants that pull up nutrients from deep below.

4. Young Shrubs – Bushy and Bold

After the herbaceous plants stabilize the soil, shrubs come in next. These are your berry bushes and small woody plants that start to structure the space and create small microclimates. At this stage, the soil is rich enough for more demanding plants, so you can branch out into more complex species.

5. Mature Trees – The Grand Finale

The final stage in succession is mature trees. These giants take a long time to reach full size but provide shade, wood, fruit, and deep soil structure changes. Their roots go deep, ensuring that moisture and nutrients cycle up through the ecosystem. In a permaculture garden, your mature trees might be apple, pear, or nut trees, depending on your growing zone and personal taste.

John, this is where you envision your garden in the long term, planning for fruit trees or sturdy, hardwood species that can stand the test of time.

Active vs. Passive Succession in Permaculture

Now that you understand the stages of plant succession, it’s time to explore two approaches to planning succession in your garden—active and passive succession.

A Passive Succession: Letting Nature Lead the Way

Passive succession means letting nature be the head gardener. You work with the land’s natural tendencies and intervene minimally, allowing ecosystems to unfold at their own pace. This method works best if you have time on your hands and don’t mind your garden looking a little less organized. It’s perfect for anyone who values low-maintenance and wants to see what nature intended for their space.

For example, you could let weeds and wild plants establish, observe what naturally thrives, and then let those plants guide your future planting. You’d be surprised how much you can learn from this “hands-off” approach.

B Active Succession: Guide with a Gentle Hand

In active succession, you’re more hands-on. You plan which plants go where and when to plant them, ensuring that each stage of succession is optimized for your specific goals. It’s like hosting a garden party and deciding who comes in first to set the mood, who keeps the energy going, and which guests close out the evening.

If you’re looking to yield a specific crop—like tomatoes in your case, John—you might start with pioneers to prep the soil for your tomato plants, followed by companion herbaceous plants to nourish the soil and deter pests, and then perhaps even shrubs or other perennials to lock in the improvements.

Planning for Plant Succession in Your Garden

Alright John, let’s dig into the nitty-gritty of how to plan plant succession in your garden. You’ve got a solid understanding of the principles—now it’s time to put them to work.

A Start with an Observation—What’s Already Growing?

The first step is to look at what’s already happening in your garden. If you’ve been growing tomatoes for a few years, the soil might be in a different condition compared to a patch that’s just had grass or weeds. Before you plant anything else, evaluate the current stage of succession. Are you still in a pioneer stage, or have you moved on to more complex herbaceous plants?

• Look at the species present: Weeds might indicate compacted soil, while grasses might indicate soil that’s slightly more balanced.
• Test the soil: Grab a trowel and take a look at the texture. Is it dry and crumbly, rich and loamy, or something in between? This can give you hints on which stage you might be in.
• Observe the sunlight and water: Are your garden beds getting more shaded over time? Are there areas that remain particularly wet or dry? This will help you determine which plants will fare best as you advance through succession stages.

B Setting Succession Goals—What Do You Want to Achieve?

After observing, it’s time to set some specific goals. Do you want a veggie patch, or are you aiming for an edible forest garden? These goals will shape the stages of growth you plan for.

• Short-term goals: Quick-growing crops like lettuce, herbs, or annual flowers that provide food and beauty while you work on long-term succession.
• Mid-term goals: Perennials like asparagus, raspberries, or shrubs that slowly build the structure and health of your garden.
• Long-term goals: Where do you see your garden in five or ten years? This might be where those towering fruit trees come into play.

C Choose the Right Plants for Each Stage

Once you know your garden’s current stage and your goals, start selecting plants that fit. Remember, each plant in your garden has a role to play in the succession process.

Pioneer Stage Plants

For your garden, these might include:

• Ground covers like clover or creeping thyme to protect and enrich soil.
• Fast-growing annuals like radishes or lettuce to establish quickly and provide easy crops.
• Soil-busting herbs like comfrey or dandelions to start breaking up earth and pulling nutrients upward.

Herbaceous Stage Plants

Once the soil starts improving, you can move onto more complex plants like:

• Perennial herbs like rosemary, oregano, or chives which anchor the soil with deeper roots.
• Nitrogen-fixing plants like beans or peas to keep soil fertility high for future plantings.
• Shallow-rooted vegetables like leafy greens and alliums that don’t compete heavily for resources but thrive on well-conditioned soil.

Shrub and Tree Stage Plants

As you advance, go for:

• Berries like raspberries or gooseberries that benefit from partial shade.
• Dwarf fruit trees like apples or pears for smaller spaces.
• Shade-tolerant perennials like rhubarb to provide ground cover under trees.

Troubleshooting Common Succession Challenges

Even with the best-laid plans, sometimes things just don’t grow as expected. Here are some common plant succession challenges and how to overcome them.

Slow or Compacted Soil

It’s frustrating to see your garden stagnate because the soil isn’t improving fast enough. This can happen in areas with heavy clay soil or where previous vegetation didn’t leave much behind.

• Add organic matter: Throwdown a thick layer of compost or organic mulch to introduce life and moisture back into the soil.
• Plant deep-rooted pioneers: Taproot plants like radishes or chicory can begin to break up compacted layers.
• Embrace patience: Soil doesn’t recover overnight. Consider starting with container gardening while you work on improving your beds.

Invasive Pioneer Species

Sometimes pioneer plants do their job too well—like when weeds take over and are hard to remove. In this case, the key is to keep things in balance.

• Direct competition: Plant desired species densely to choke out weeds and ensure they don’t gain a foothold.
• Mulching: Use organic or sheet mulch to prevent weed seeds from germinating or thriving.
• Manual removal: Got a few stubborn weeds? Pull them out before they go to seed and undo all your hard work.

Jumping Stages Too Quickly

It’s tempting to jump straight to those glorious fruit trees, but skipping stages can backfire. Young trees can fail in poor soil conditions, or your perennials could fall prey to weeds or pests when the ecosystem isn’t balanced yet.

• Let your garden tell you: Wait until your current plants thrive before advancing. This is your indicator that the soil and ecosystem are ready.
• Prepare soil well: Before moving forward, enrich the soil with compost, mulch, and potentially cover crops.
• Take it slow: Plant in small patches, advancing as each previous stage excels. Your trees will thank you for it.

Using Animal Integration in Plant Succession

Integrating animals into your garden can advance plant succession efficiently. Permaculture often utilizes animals to manage weeds, pests, and soil, making them a valuable ally in your backyard adventures.

Chickens and Succession

Chickens can be your best friend during the pioneer stage. They do an excellent job of preparing the soil for you:

• Weed control: Chickens forage in pastures, removing weeds as they scratch the ground.
• Soil healing: Their scratching helps to aerate compacted soil, breaking up that dense earth to ready it for your next planting stage.
• Fertilizer power: Chicken manure is rich in nitrogen, which is a perfect booster as you move into herbaceous planting.

Small Livestock and Grazing

Goats, sheep, or rabbits can all be beneficial too. These grazers can manage the transition from pioneer to herbaceous plants by clearing old plant debris and even selectively grazing less prevalent species.

• Pioneer plant control: Smaller livestock can graze certain pioneer species down to a tolerable level without wiping them out completely, helping natural selection take place.
• Mulching and manure: Uprooted plants and manure can be directly incorporated back into the soil, creating a seamless cycle of growth and decomposition.
• Maintaining balance: Their selective grazing helps prevent the pioneer stage from running amok, helping more desirable species to take root and thrive.

Plant Succession and Seasonal Considerations

Succession isn’t just about long-term planning; the seasons play a significant role each year. Understanding how seasons impact the succession process will help you better manage your garden’s development.

Spring: Preparation and Planting

Spring is the reopening of the garden, usually after winter has left the soil replenished with moisture.

• Soil conditioning: Use this season to apply compost and mulch, which will boost the soil, helping it warm up and settle post-winter.
• Early planting: Opt for cold-tolerant crops in the planting stage, such as peas, spinach, or other hardy greens.
• Assess progression: This is a great time to review your plants’ condition—you’ll see quickly which plants might need support or replacement.

Summer: Growth and Maintenance

During summer’s peak, most plants are in full swing, actively growing and producing.

• Watering routine: Heat typically means more water is needed. Stick to consistent patterns, ideally during morning or evening when soil won’t dry out too quickly.
• Succession aids: Consider introducing quick-growing companions to shield sensitive plants or to enhance soil conditions as warmer-weather crops emerge.
• Pruning and harvesting: This is the season to maintain your plants’ succession pace, pruning back overgrowth that could hamper others.

Autumn: Final Harvest and Soil Prep

As growth tapers off, autumn is about harvesting the last of your summer plantings and preparing your bed for winter.

• Final harvest: Clear out annuals and replant beds with any cool-weather crops.
• Mulching: Apply mulch over perennial beds to protect sensitive plants from frost.
• Cover crops: Consider a winter cover crop such as rye or clover to stabilize and prepare the soil for the next spring.

Winter: Rest and Reflect

Winter is the season where the visible work slows down, but beneath the surface, your garden continues to transform.

• Soil rest: Allow your garden’s soil to rest, using winter as a natural break in the succession cycle.
• Reflection and planning: Use this time to reflect on your past year’s successes and challenges, reshaping your plans for the next growing season.
• Winter protection: Make sure any plants, particularly those sensitive to frost, are protected with appropriate coverings or mulch.

Final Thoughts…

John, permaculture’s plant succession gives you a framework for growing a healthy, balanced garden that works with nature rather than against it. It may take time to develop your space, but the rewards are more than worth it. Allow yourself to observe, plan, and gently guide each stage as your garden evolves. The journey is a lesson in patience, adaptability, and the joy that comes from seeing your garden’s transformation.

Thanks for reaching out and sharing your journey! Keep growing, and enjoy every step of the way.