Yes, there’s such a thing. Planting natives attract your local birds, butterflies, frogs, beneficial insects, and more!
- Select regionally native plants to form the backbone of the landscape.
- Reducing the use of turf
- Stabilize slopes with natural plantings, mulching around plants, and installing drought- tolerant species
- Shrink the size of the lawn and planting appropriate native species in less formal arrangements will reduce the need for extensive use of power equipment
- Plant a “no-mow” native grass and ground cover lawn
- Avoid use of invasive exotics which out-compete native plants
- Plant at least 80% natives
- Capture rain water
- Install a rain garden in a wet area
Hummingbird on my swamp milkweed. They like the jewelweed shown in the background too!
Eco-Friendly Design Basics
When designing a garden, look around for any water issues you may have. If you have standing water, create a rain garden or a bog! (We’ll deal with that next time.)
The next question to ask yourself is what style of garden do you enjoy, formal, informal, what color of flowers, perennials, or shrubs?
Most people aren’t sure what they want but most are sure that it has to be low maintenance. That’s where native plants come in. Once established, natives require less care all around.
I recommend going to a local nursery (preferably not a “big box” retailer.) Get a look at what’s available. Take pictures, write down the names. That way, if you do hire a landscape designer, you’ll be able to tell them what you want.
If you have any questions, just ask me….
