Why native

Deciding to use native plants and natural landscaping on your patch of soil, wherever that may be, is an important decision. Though there are many different reasons you might choose to do so, we suggest the four W’s as a foundation for understanding the importance of native plants:

• Wildlife: Thousands of species of animals depend on native plants for food and nutrients. Many butterflies and other insects feed on very specific species or families of plants. Many birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals, in turn, rely upon a diversity of insects as a source of protein. Native plants are the powerhouses of our ecosystems. Watch Douglas Tallamy's video "Why Native Plants" to learn about the unique relationships that animals form with native plants.
  


• Watersheds: Native plants do not require fertilizer or watering if they are matched to the appropriate site, reducing the impact of gardening on our aquifers and allowing for slower, cleaner runoff to flow into nearby streams. This means cleaner streams and rivers for the fish and for our children. New to watersheds? Check out the EPA's "What is a Watershed" page here.
  


• Work: Native plants mean less work for you: less fertilizer, less watering, and less energy spent worrying about keeping unadapted plants alive. If you choose to use natural landscaping, you can also save on time and money spent mowing, raking and replanting. Read more about native plants and natural landscaping on the WildOnes website, here.
  


• Wonder: Using native plants is an opportunity to nourish a sense of place, to get in touch with the natural communities that have shared this land with people for thousands of years. Watching life reclaim a once bare and lifeless yard can foster a profound sense of discovery and adventure. Realizing that hundreds of living creatures, big and small, depend upon the native plant communities you restored can be extremely rewarding.
  

Douglas Tallamy answer the question Why Native:

Joy Buslaff narrates eloquently the history, science and law of native landscaping. Please watch these videos for a brief orientation to the native landscaping movement.