It’s essential to ensure that your property looks visually appealing, whether it’s a residential landscape or a site to attract customers. Your landscape design will be the first thing visitors see, so it should be welcoming and well-maintained.
Commercially, there is a growing trend of organizations embracing sustainability to gain a competitive edge in today’s business world. Companies are making significant efforts to prioritize environmental concerns, following the “go green” mantra. They are increasingly focusing their marketing campaigns and outreach efforts on reducing their carbon footprint and positively impacting the planet.
Native vegetation offers numerous opportunities to tackle growing environmental concerns and convert large office spaces into ecologically rich areas. Many businesses recognize that they can create visually appealing commercial properties and office campuses by incorporating native landscaping designs that blend decorative elements with environmental advantages.
Here are five main benefits of using native plants in any landscape:
1. Beauty and Aesthetics: Native plants can add seasonal interest, color, and texture that traditional, non-native landscapes can’t offer. Many native species make great alternatives to non-native species, and when properly chosen and established, they can give your property a positive visual appearance. It can also showcase your interest in and support for improving the local environment.
2. Environmental Benefits: The diversity of native plants is declining due to human activity, such as urban development and agribusiness. This loss has led to habitat loss, erosion, reduced genetic diversity, and a disconnection of people from the land. Using native plants in landscape plantings plays a crucial role in supporting pollinators, songbirds, and other wildlife, thereby contributing to the restoration of a sustainable ecosystem.
3. Water Conservation: Non-native species often require large amounts of water, fertilizer, and herbicides for maintenance. Using native plants can help conserve water and other natural resources while also providing habitats for wildlife and encouraging the presence of native insects and microorganisms.
4. Low Maintenance: Since native plants are better adapted to the local climate, weather fluctuations, soil conditions, and environment, they naturally need fewer inputs. Their deep root systems enable them to survive floods or droughts or even be better additions to areas near rain gardens or detention or retention ponds. This means less irrigation, fertilization, pesticides, and overall maintenance. And, once established, they can hold up to pests better. Perennial native wildflowers and grasses expand to fill in areas and crowd out undesirable weeds.
In the long term, native plants require less time, energy, and money for maintenance than non-native species. This can save time and money while maintaining a beautiful property in harmony with the local environment.
5. Cultural Significance and Sense of Place: Using plants native to the local area makes a property appear more cohesive with the surrounding area, creating a more inviting environment for visitors.
Research indicates that individuals frequently immerse themselves in natural surroundings and experience various physical and psychological advantages. By incorporating native landscapes that mimic forest environments, employers can effectively reduce stress levels, boost job satisfaction, and enhance employee productivity. Furthermore, employees may share their positive experiences, thereby improving the company’s employer brand.