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Blue Morning Landscapes

The Top Reasons to Grow Native Plants in Your Yard

Updated: Dec 21, 2021


Do you spend a lot of time in your yard watering, fertilizing, and maintaining your landscape plants? If so, it may be time to consider changing things up a bit. For example, you can replace your non-native plants with native plants and eliminate many of these bothersome chores.


Choosing native plants is going to change how you look at landscaping. Keep reading to learn the benefits of planting native plants here.


Save Water


While the planet is covered by mostly water, the availability of safe, clean drinking water is slowly shrinking. The clean water that comes out of your hose and is used to irrigate your lawn, flower bed, and garden is water that is worth saving.


Usually, native plants will require much less water than non-native plants. Since most native plants are used to a certain amount of rain your area receives, they don’t usually require additional irrigation. Also, native plants will grow a deeper root system that helps them store water for much longer periods of time.


No Fertilizer Required


If you are tired of spending your money on fertilizer for your non-native plants and grass, it may be time to consider switching to native plant options.


Modern native plants have adapted to their ecosystem’s soil. It doesn’t matter if the soil is nutrient-rich or low-quality; native plants become accustomed to it and can thrive in these conditions without the addition of more fertilizer.


Along with helping you save money and time, this is also beneficial for the environment. Fertilizers that are full of chemicals will pollute the stormwater runoff and cause toxic waterways for all types of fish and aquatic animals.


No Pesticides Required


Another pollutant that native species don’t need is pesticides. Thanks to years of adaptation, native plants develop a natural defense against the fungi, diseases, and insects in the area.


Local Weather Tolerance


Since native plants are well adapted to the area’s climate and weather conditions, they are much more likely to stay alive than non-native plants.


An example would be someone who lives close to the ocean. Here, plants need to be resistant to hurricanes and salt. Native plants will be much more likely to survive when planted here than non-native options that have not adapted to these extreme conditions.


Rarely Invasive


If you are not careful, invasive plants may overtake your entire garden. For example, English ivy may be a beautiful vine you love to see, but it can overtake other, more vulnerable plants if not properly maintained.


Some non-native plants can become invasive, while most native plants do not have this characteristic.


Choosing Native Plants


If you aren’t sure what plants are native to your area, it is a good idea to speak to an expert. They can help you choose the native plants best suited for the climate and your region. Once you have these in place, you can experience all the benefits above and more.

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