What do I mean when I say "Go native." I mean that we shoud strive to plant species that are native to our area. Why? For a number of reasons, including it:
1. Maintains "natures balance."
2. Makes maintainenance a snap.
3. Prevents problems with exotic plants.
Although each of these is a complex subject, I will try to provide some simple explanations below.
Local wildlife and those that migrate through a particular area adapted to certain plants through time. Plants and animals interact in many ways and actually effect the evolution of each other. These interactions are not always understood. Thus, animals should be provided with the foods and cover to which they adapted. Growing native plants will continue this relationship between plants and animals. For example, an exotic (not native to the area) plant's flower may provide nectar to a butterfly, but is the combination of the types and amounts of minerals and nutrients in the nectar the healthiest for the butterfly? It is if the butterfly has adapted to use nectar from a particular local flower over the eons.
Native plants normally require less maintenance once they are established. They are accustomed to the soil, rainfall, and other local conditions. Thus, they typically need little fertilization, watering, and general pampering that many exotic plants require (I will not go into the problems this prevents except to give one brief example-- the prevention of over fertilization of local bodies of water due to runoff from fertilized lawns, flower beds, etc.). Some natives can be found at local nursuries. More and more native plant nursuries are propsering as people learn the value of native plants. Try to buy plants grown in the local area when you get them from a nursery. In some cases, natives can be grown far away from where you live or from seed of plants that grew far away. This is especially true of native plants that are found over a large area (for example, one that grows throughout the United States). Having trouble locating a source? Go to a local site where you are permitted to collect seed and grow them yourself. It can be quite satisfying to grow your own plants from seed you collected personally. However, there are some things to be aware off before you begin collecting seed from local areas. I will post information related to this topic in the near future.
Did you know that the introduction of exotic plants and animals into the United States is costing "billions and billions" of dollars each year? Search the word "invasives" and you will find out why (Visit here for a wonderful place to learn about this topic.). Exotic plants grown in yards often escape and can become significant pests, especially if they are highly invasive (rapaidly spread and invade areas). Many of these exotic plants do not have the pests and diseases that keep their populations in check in these new areas. The plants can spread like wildfire, outcomplete native plants that do have existing checks and balances, change the types of food and cover available for wildife, and create all sorts of unimaginable problems on the landscape.
Do I have any exotics in my yard? Very few. However, the few that I have planted are not, to my knowledge, invasive. If I find out they are, I'll remove them! I had some control over this from the start. We built our house and I provided the builder a list of plants that he should use in landscaping my yard. Generally, he did a good job. So, I have gone and continue to go native.
1. Maintains "natures balance."
2. Makes maintainenance a snap.
3. Prevents problems with exotic plants.
Although each of these is a complex subject, I will try to provide some simple explanations below.
Local wildlife and those that migrate through a particular area adapted to certain plants through time. Plants and animals interact in many ways and actually effect the evolution of each other. These interactions are not always understood. Thus, animals should be provided with the foods and cover to which they adapted. Growing native plants will continue this relationship between plants and animals. For example, an exotic (not native to the area) plant's flower may provide nectar to a butterfly, but is the combination of the types and amounts of minerals and nutrients in the nectar the healthiest for the butterfly? It is if the butterfly has adapted to use nectar from a particular local flower over the eons.
Native plants normally require less maintenance once they are established. They are accustomed to the soil, rainfall, and other local conditions. Thus, they typically need little fertilization, watering, and general pampering that many exotic plants require (I will not go into the problems this prevents except to give one brief example-- the prevention of over fertilization of local bodies of water due to runoff from fertilized lawns, flower beds, etc.). Some natives can be found at local nursuries. More and more native plant nursuries are propsering as people learn the value of native plants. Try to buy plants grown in the local area when you get them from a nursery. In some cases, natives can be grown far away from where you live or from seed of plants that grew far away. This is especially true of native plants that are found over a large area (for example, one that grows throughout the United States). Having trouble locating a source? Go to a local site where you are permitted to collect seed and grow them yourself. It can be quite satisfying to grow your own plants from seed you collected personally. However, there are some things to be aware off before you begin collecting seed from local areas. I will post information related to this topic in the near future.
Did you know that the introduction of exotic plants and animals into the United States is costing "billions and billions" of dollars each year? Search the word "invasives" and you will find out why (Visit here for a wonderful place to learn about this topic.). Exotic plants grown in yards often escape and can become significant pests, especially if they are highly invasive (rapaidly spread and invade areas). Many of these exotic plants do not have the pests and diseases that keep their populations in check in these new areas. The plants can spread like wildfire, outcomplete native plants that do have existing checks and balances, change the types of food and cover available for wildife, and create all sorts of unimaginable problems on the landscape.
Do I have any exotics in my yard? Very few. However, the few that I have planted are not, to my knowledge, invasive. If I find out they are, I'll remove them! I had some control over this from the start. We built our house and I provided the builder a list of plants that he should use in landscaping my yard. Generally, he did a good job. So, I have gone and continue to go native.
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