The average suburban landscape today is an ecological desert: An acre or two of non-native grass which requires large chemical inputs and constant maintenance coupled with a flower bed full of high-maintenance exotics and maybe an ornamental tree. Put a bunch of these landscapes next to each other and you start to create a large area that is completely useless to most forms of wildlife. Acres of turf, for instance, are only useful to insects that want to eat the grass (pests), and besides providing no habitat benefits, landscapes like this, place added pressures on the surrounding natural habitats from chemical laden run-off and spread of invasive exotics.

We can do better.  The choices are ours to make and its time that our landscapes become part of the solution instead of the problem. A healthy landscape has many different layers, from the canopy of your tallest trees down to the contents of your soil, hopefully packed full of beneficial bacteria, fungi, insects, and other microorganisms. Multiple layers in a landscape provide abundant niches for plants and animals alike. Many ecologists believe that the simplest way to restore some balance into our landscape is by choosing and planting native plants.

So what is a native plant you might ask? For starters, a native plant for us in the Champlain Valley is one whose natural geographic range has historically included this region. A plant naturally occurs in a particular region because it is comparatively well suited to take advantage of the climate and soil conditions present in that area. Simply put, it is a superior competitor in that particular area, and this is precisely the reason why native plants are a great addition to any landscape.

Native plants are not only better adapted to your local climate and soil but they are also important pieces of the ecological puzzle that is our environment. Over thousands of years, native plants have formed complex relationships with the animals, insects, fungi, and soil microorganisms that live in, on, and around them. Therefore they work harmoniously with our natural surroundings, which we cherish so much here in the Champlain Valley. Many of the bird species you love depend on particular native plants for food, shelter, and nest sites and wouldn’t be able to survive without them. Planting native species also helps relieve pressure on our local ecosystems by diminishing the effect of habitat loss through development. So native plants are good for the environment, but what can they do for the discerning gardener. Well, if less watering, fertilizing, and plant replacement sounds good to you then Native plants are right up your alley. They are already adapted to the drought, cold, and available nutrients (or lack thereof) in their natural range; so when properly sited you can expect to spend far less time and resources maintaining your native plants.    

There are many different ways to incorporate native plants into the landscape and the more plant diversity you have the more resilient your landscape will be.

• If you find that you spend more time mowing and fertilizing your lawn than enjoying it, try switching part of it to a native wildflower field. Chances are you will be delighted by a full summer of beautiful low maintenance flowers and the birds, bees, and butterflies will appreciate the bountiful resources.
• If your landscape is lacking in excitement try planting some native bushes or small trees that provide wildlife food such as serviceberry, elderberry, or high-bush blueberry, all of which are edible and tasty for humans too.
•  Large native trees can even provide energy incentives that last hundreds of years. A white oak planted on the south side of a house can provide cooling shade in the summer and still let warming solar rays through during the cold winter months.

 There are native plants to fill just about any landscaping need you could possible imagine and chances are they will require less maintenance in the long run therefore reducing your monetary and energy expenditures. And for those of you who really want to make a positive impact, or just enjoy more wildlife, it’s easier than you think to piece together a thriving natural community even in smaller sized yards.