A perfectly manicured lawn may be pleasing to the human eye, but it takes a toll on Mother Nature. Seas of green grass and exotic plants cannot support the local wildlife in your region. Most people aren’t aware that their lawns are damaging to the environment. That’s where native landscaping comes in. By implementing native plants, your yard can support wildlife and look beautiful.
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So what is native landscaping and how do I start?
Each country, region, state, and even county has naturally occurring plants that have adapted to the region’s conditions. These are called native plants and they are more beneficial to the surrounding nature than most common lawn plants. Creating a native landscape is as easy as swapping foreign grasses and exotic flowers for their native counterparts.
The first step is determining which plants are native to your area. A great resource is this list of Native Plants by State. For a more specific plant list, the Audobon Society has a database of native plants. Just enter your zip code! The next step is mapping out which plants would be a good fit for your yard’s conditions. Even though native plants are meant to grow in your area, each has different growing conditions. Map out which areas of your yard are shade-covered or sunny, wet or dry, etc. This also gives you a vague idea of where your plants will go.
After planning everything, go to a nursery, grab some wonderful plants, and watch your special habitat grow!
Benefits of native landscaping
Let’s start from the beginning with a hypothetical. Say a butterfly eats milkweed, then the butterfly is eaten by a bird, which a larger bird of prey consumes. Without native landscaping, this entire chain, and most others, crumble. The typical yard doesn’t have the plants crucial to life such as milkweed and other native grasses and flowers.
Since urbanization has taken over much of nature, these organisms have started to depend on the resources of human property. But what happens when lawns are filled with inedible and harsh plants? The answer is pretty grim; these species go extinct. They have nowhere to go and nothing to eat. This is why crucial for our properties to include plant species that local wildlife can thrive on.
Native landscaping also benefits homeowners. First of all, it’s very low maintenance. Since native plants have already adapted to the temperatures, soil conditions, precipitation, etc. of the area, you don’t have to worry about constant maintenance. This saves resources, such as water. Native plants require much less water than their exotic counterparts, saving you time and money.
Another benefit of these adaptations is that hazardous chemicals and fertilizers are no longer needed. Native plants don’t need chemicals to survive, your yard’s conditions are already perfect for them! Lastly, native landscaping makes your property beautiful and unique. You get to customize your lawn to create one beautiful garden, that will be sure to make your neighbors jealous.
Tips to begin your journey
Start small:
If changing everything about your yard scares you, that’s okay. Start by adding a few native plants and work your way up to a comfortable level.
Ask for help:
Do you know a neighbor, friend, or family member who’s dabbled in native landscaping? If yes, that’s great! Use them as a resource, and don’t feel like you have to do everything on your own.
Do your research:
It’s very important to map out what will grow best in your yard, and where. Don’t just buy plants that are native to your area and haphazardly plant them.
Have fun:
At the end of the day, it’s your yard and the plant lists are a guide that helps create your garden oasis.
Check out other resources:
There are so many good resources out there on the benefits of native landscaping for wildlife, why these plants matter, and so much more. The US Forest Service offers some great resources!
Paige Trendell
Paige Trendell is a high school intern at Sass Magazine. You can find her appreciating nature, crocheting, or reading a book. She hopes to go to college, major in journalism, and maybe even make it to the Washington Post!
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