The benefits of planting native plants are tremendous. Native plants are an integral part of the natural ecosystems. These plants were here long before humans settled on the land. Let’s explore why native plants are so crucial for valuable biodiversity.
Native plants can be sourced from local garden nurseries. But be sure to ask if the plants have been grown locally. If buying seeds, they, too, should be locally sourced.
May is national wildlife month, and what better way to celebrate than planting some native plants? Native plants provide habitats for native wildlife and pollinators. Enhancing and restoring the garden’s natural elements will make the urban landscape more wildlife friendly. In addition, establishing native plants offers songbirds and pollinators– butterflies and bees, more living space, feeding opportunities and shelter from predators.
Grow a butterfly garden and plant plants with a high nectar content to attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Some native plants produce berries in late summer or early fall that will attract songbirds on their southward migration. Native plants provide an abundance of seeds or berries for songbirds. They also support rich native insect food that most baby songbirds require.
Children will also love to explore the garden and discover new bugs, birds and plants. Native plants in the garden and the wildlife visiting can help get kids excited about nature.
Some native plants may be delicious, especially for deer and rabbits. Place some bars of soap near the plants to keep deer away, or try adding a motion sensor.
Native plants improve soil health—no more need to spend money on fertilizer. Native plants have adapted to their ecosystem’s soil. So, whether they’ve adapted to poor or fertile soils, they can survive off the soil’s available nutrients without the help of fertilizers. This not only saves money and time, but it is also an excellent benefit for the environment. If wanting to boost your plant performance, consider something light. Use some sort of organic compost. This can be from your aged compost from kitchen scraps, shredded and decayed leaf mulch or other natural and organic compost generated from raw materials. Natural composts are preferred over concentrated chemical pellets which can burn sensitive plants and contribute to chemical runoff. Fertilizers pollute stormwater runoff, producing toxic waterways for fish and other aquatic life.
Native plants reduce water usage. In urban areas, lawn irrigation uses vast percentages of water consumption. Less watering is required with native plants well adapted to local climate conditions. Native plants in the wild do not require more than natural rainfall, although many plants will appreciate extra watering during extended droughts.
Consider growing a rain garden made of native plants to help minimize the effects of runoff. Rain gardens help capture and filter stormwater runoff before it escapes into waterways. The deep root systems of many native plants increase the soil’s capacity to store water and filter pollutants. Native plants can significantly reduce water runoff that causes flooding. Runoff water is often polluted by fertilizers, pesticides, and other chemicals on our roads, driveways and lawns.
Native plants eliminate air pollution. Natural landscapes do not require mowing or very much maintenance. Gas-powered lawnmowers emit 11 times the air pollution of a new car. Excessive carbon from burning fossil fuels contributes to global warming. In contrast, native plants remove carbon from the air. Of course, some robot lawnmowers are electric and do not burn any fossil fuels. Win, win!
Along with the benefits listed above, native plants are low-maintenance and offer tremendous diversity and intrinsic beauty, so get to gardening!
