Native plants are plants that occur naturally in your geographic region*. Using them in your garden beds can solve some of the classic problems homeowners run into with their landscape design. They offer a range of benefits for both the environment and the people who inhabit it! Native plants are lower maintenance, reduce water usage, bring a sense of connection to the environment, and add a unique beauty to any landscape design. As a busy homeowner, you’ll want to spend less time and energy worrying about your landscape and more time enjoying it!
*Pro Tip: If you’re unfamiliar with what plants are native to your region, use a native plant finder like this one to get started! Simply type in your zip code and you’ll have a host of native plants to choose from!
1. Landscaping With Native Plants Means Less Maintenance
Every home requires some level of maintenance, but who needs to add another 10 bullet points to their endless to-do list? Without some know-how, landscaping can quickly become a time-consuming burden. Your landscape design should work for you, not the other way around!
Because native plants have adapted to the local climate, soil, and conditions, they’ll thrive in your yard. They’re uniquely suited to handle the pests, diseases, and weather conditions of your home environment, reducing your need to lift a finger (or a shovel). Using native plants to landscape actually means easier maintenance, leaving you with extra time to spend on those hobbies you’ve been neglecting for a few too many years.
2. Native Plants Help the Environment
Landscaping with native plants can help Mother Earth in tons of ways. Since local plant species are adapted to the challenges of their native environment, using them in your landscaping design significantly decreases the need for potentially harmful chemicals from fertilizers and pesticides.
Native plants also provide much-needed habitats and food sources for wildlife including birds, butterflies, and pollinators like bees! Ecosystems depend on these plants to stay healthy and promote biodiversity. Last, planting native species can help reduce soil erosion and improve soil health since they tend to develop deeper root systems that provide extra stability for the soil.
3. Planting Native Species Saves Money
Native plants are experts at accessing nutrients and water in local soil. They develop deeper root systems to efficiently meet their own needs without lots of intervention, which is good news for your wallet! With lower maintenance comes decreased costs. From landscapers to fertilizer to extra water just to keep them alive, non-native plants can be a bit needy in comparison to native species, to say the least.
Additionally, non-native plants often just aren’t suited for the local conditions, so you’ll be spending extra money on replacing them when they die. Save yourself the headache and start with plants that have already been tested and proven by the environment.
4. Native Plants Add Beauty
Native plants are also just as beautiful (if not more so) than other plant species. They come in all sorts of colors, shapes, and sizes, which means more variety and beauty in your life. Because they thrive in their original surroundings, native plants are healthier and more vibrant than their non-native counterparts. If you plan well and use a wide variety of native species, your yard will never be dull because they’ll bloom at different times of the year. Your yard will feel fresh each season with little effort on your part. You’ll never want to go back inside!
We do have a few words of caution, however. Whether you’re planting for the season or just appreciating the beauty of your yard mid-season, be aware of invasive species – plants that are non-native that are likely to cause harm to the ecosystem or human health. Looks can be deceiving because they can be pretty and even look like other plant species, but they can spread quickly and damage the existing plants in your garden beds if left unchecked. It’s important to make sure to schedule regular landscaping maintenance so invasive species can be dealt with before your garden beds are overtaken!
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Maintaining native plants can feel overwhelming especially if you’re unfamiliar with the local species, but don’t stress! We’re here to help as you navigate the joys of working with native plants in your landscape. Give us a call when you’re ready to work with us to keep your home looking beautiful all year round.