Going Native

This post is courtesy of HWA Home Warranty.




There are 20,000 plant species native to North America playing enormously important
roles in our ecosystems. Learning about and growing them in your yard can be fun and
educational for the whole family. And here are some benefits of going native:


• Decrease the amount of water and fertilizer you need to maintain your landscapes
• Reduce long-term landscape maintenance when native plants are properly planted
and established
• Protect water quality by controlling soil erosion and moderating floods and
droughts
• Add beauty to your landscape and preserve our natural heritage
• Provide food and habitat for native wildlife
• Help slow down the spread of fire because native plants stay greener longer
• Create a potentially important genetic resource for future food crops or other
plant-related products
• Create a natural balance keeping species in check, and allowing species to thrive,
preventing local imbalances.


What is a Native Plant?


These are plants that evolved naturally in a particular area before humans. They’ve
adapted well to the soil, moisture and weather conditions of that region.
Native plants have the most interesting flowers and foliage with shrubs and trees
providing many shapes, heights, and textures in your yard. Many of them even provide
beauty in the winter through their bark colors, textures and seed pods.
There are many resources on the Web and books written on this subject to get you and
your family started. Wow the neighbors with the beauty you create and the knowledge
you gain through going native!
You can source native plants through the North American Native Plant Society at
www.nanps.org and other great sites on the Web.