Native landscaping is more than a trend—it signifies a movement toward sustainable and ecologically beneficial landscapes. These resilient landscapes create solutions for the owner instead of demanding significant resources to survive.
As climate change, habitat loss, and water management challenges increase, native plants are emerging as practical solutions for homeowners, businesses, and land managers. Native plants provide many benefits, from lowering maintenance to supporting pollinators and sequestering carbon. This article will explore how high-quality native landscaping can transform your property into a flourishing, sustainable ecosystem.
Why Choose Native Plants?
Native plants have evolved over thousands of years to thrive in specific regions. They are uniquely adapted to local soil, climate, and wildlife, making them an ideal choice for sustainable landscaping. Here are some of the key reasons why native plants are gaining popularity:
1. Environmental Benefits:
- Support Biodiversity: Native plants offer habitat and food for local wildlife, including pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and birds. They also support soil microorganisms, which are essential for healthy ecosystems.
- Carbon Sequestration: Native plants have deep root systems that help sequester carbon in the soil, which helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhances soil health.
- Stormwater Management: Deep-rooted native plants, like those used in rain gardens, bioswales, and low-lying wet areas, filter pollutants and reduce runoff, improving water quality and preventing erosion.
2. Economic Benefits:
- Lower Maintenance: Native plants require less water, fertilizer, and pest control than non-native species, reducing long-term maintenance costs.
- Improved Energy Usage: A native landscape can significantly improve energy usage by providing natural shade from trees and shrubs, acting as windbreaks, and requiring less water. This means less energy is required to heat and cool a home, thereby lowering energy bills.
- Increased Property Value: A well-designed native landscape can enhance curb appeal and increase property value.
3. Aesthetic Benefits:
- Year-Round Beauty: Native plants offer seasonal interest, from spring blooms to vibrant fall foliage and striking winter silhouettes.
- Unique Landscapes: Native plants create a sense of place, reflecting the natural beauty of the region.
Designing a Quality Native Landscape
Establishing a thriving native landscape starts with thoughtful planning and attention to your site’s distinctive conditions and challenges. Here are some essential steps to begin:
1. Define Your Goals
Before planting, consider the purpose of your native landscape. Are you looking to:
- Support pollinators and wildlife?
- Reduce stormwater runoff with a rain garden or bioswale?
- Create a low-maintenance, drought-resistant landscape?
- Add seasonal color and beauty to your property?
Your goals will guide your plant selection and landscape design.
2. Assess Your Site
Assess your site’s conditions, including sunlight, soil type, and moisture levels. Native plants thrive when matched to their preferred environment or the natural community where they occur. For example:
- Sunny, dry areas: Consider native grasses from the ‘prairie’, ‘savanna’, or ‘glade’ natural communities like little bluestem or perennial wildflowers like purple coneflower.
- Shady, moist areas: Opt for ‘forest’ plants like eastern wahoo, swamp white oak, black gum, or American hornbeam.
- Wet areas: Use ‘wetland’ species like swamp milkweed or bald cypress for rain gardens, soggy areas, or bioswales.
Natural Communities
3. Choose the Right Plants
Select native plants well-suited to your site’s conditions and aesthetic preferences. Here are some standout native species to consider:
- Trees: Black gum, sugar maple, and bald cypress offer stunning fall color and provide habitat for wildlife.
- Shrubs: Eastern wahoo, chokecherry, and serviceberry offer multi-season interest, attract pollinators, and produce edible fruits.
- Perennials: Milkweed, wild bergamot, and blue cardinal flower support pollinators and add vibrant color to your landscape.
- Grasses and Sedges: Prairie dropseed, little bluestem, and tussock sedge are excellent for erosion control and low-maintenance lawns or meadows.
Choosing the correct native plants will help you create a resilient landscape:
- Drought Resistance: Native plants have deep root systems and specialized adaptations that help them survive during water scarcity.Soil Health: Native plants improve soil structure, prevent erosion, and foster nutrient cycling.
- Pest and Disease Resistance: Native plants have evolved defenses against local pests and diseases, reducing the need for chemical interventions.
- Pollinator and Songbird Support: Native plants provide essential food and habitat for pollinators and songbirds.
4. Plan for Maintenance
While native plants require less maintenance than non-natives, some care is still needed to ensure their success:
- Watering: Water new plantings regularly until they are established, especially during dry periods.
- Mulching: Use mulch to suppress weeds and retain moisture.
- Pruning: Prune faster-growing species to maintain shape and encourage healthy growth.
- Deadheading: Remove spent flowers to prolong blooming and prevent self-seeding.
- Burning or cutting back : Native grasses benefit from burning in late winter or early spring. This removes old plant material and promotes vigorous new growth. It also eliminates winter weeds and other unwanted vegetation that may compete with native grasses. Consult local authorities as needed and ensure appropriate weather conditions for a safe burn, including low wind speeds and moderate humidity. If burning is not an option, cut back and remove the dead grass stems.
5. Consider curb appeal
- Design for multiple views: Organize and layer plantings to showcase seasonal color and texture.
- Add a frame: A short turf border around your native planting helps define it and display design intentionality.
- Signage can help: Post award signage for developing wildlife habitat or creating a sustainable yard.
Fall is the ideal time to plant native trees and shrubs. Here’s why:
6. Plant at the best time
- Optimal Soil Temperatures: Warm fall soils encourage root growth, allowing plants to establish before winter.
- Reduced Watering Needs: Fall and winter precipitation reduces the need for supplemental watering.
- Early Spring Growth: Fall-planted native plants are set to thrive in the spring, taking advantage of an early growth spurt and boosting their resilience ahead of the summer heat.
Connect With Nature
Your Partner in Native Landscaping: Forrest Keeling Nursery
At Forrest Keeling Nursery, we are passionate about native plants and their ability to restore ecosystems and enhance landscapes. Our patented Root Production MethodR (RPM) technology ensures that our plants grow faster, survive better, and thrive in their environments. Whether you’re creating a bioswale, planting a windbreak, or designing a pollinator-friendly landscape, we have the native plants and expertise to help you succeed.
Contact Forrest Keeling Nursery to learn more about our native plant options and how we can help you create a sustainable, beautiful, and resilient landscape. Or check our real-time availability inventory online. Together, we can restore the Earth’s ecosystems—one tree at a time.