The landscape of a lakefront property has to work on multiple levels simultaneously. It needs to be beautiful. It needs to protect the shoreline from erosion. It needs to filter runoff before it reaches the lake. It needs to comply with Michigan DNR and local shoreline regulations. And ideally, it should provide habitat for the birds, butterflies, and frogs that are part of what makes living at a lake so special.
Native plants are the answer to all of these requirements at once — and they are more beautiful than most people realize. This guide covers the fundamentals of lakefront landscape design using Michigan native plants, organized by the planting zones every shoreline property contains.
Michigan Native Plants by Shoreline Zone
1Water's Edge (0–12 inches depth)
2Shoreline Transition (wet to moist)
3Upland Buffer (moist to dry)
Design & Installation Tips
Assess Light and Soil First
Before purchasing a single plant, walk your entire lakefront property and catalog the light conditions in each area (full sun, part shade, full shade) and test the soil drainage. Lakefront soils vary dramatically — from wet muck at the shoreline to sandy, well-drained upland areas. Matching plants to site conditions is far more important than any other landscaping decision you will make.
Design in Layers
Effective lakefront landscapes use vertical layers: groundcovers and low sedges at the water's edge, mid-height flowering perennials in the transition zone, and taller shrubs and small trees in the upland buffer. This layered structure mimics natural shoreline ecology, provides habitat value at every level, and creates a visually rich landscape that changes character from season to season.
Establish Plants Properly
Native plants require attention during their first one to two growing seasons while root systems establish. Water regularly (but not excessively) in dry periods, mulch around new plantings to retain moisture and suppress weeds, and remove competing invasive plants. Once established — typically after two full growing seasons — most native shoreline plants require almost no maintenance.
Embrace the Ecology
A well-designed native plant landscape will attract dragonflies, butterflies, frogs, herons, and a remarkable diversity of birds. Resist the urge to keep it too neat — some leaf litter provides overwintering habitat for beneficial insects, and seed heads left standing through winter feed birds throughout the cold months. A naturalistic lakefront landscape is more ecologically productive than a manicured one.
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