Do you want a garden that pretty much takes care of itself?
Building an eco friendly garden isn’t as hard as you might think. It just takes a little know-how and some forward thinking. The key to building an eco friendly garden that’s low-maintenance and self-sufficient is in the plants you use.
In this guide, you’ll discover:
- Why Native Plants Are The Best Choice For Eco Friendly Gardens
- How Native Plants Conserve Water (And Help The Environment)
- The Best Native Plant Benefits
- Want to Build An Eco Friendly Garden With Native Plants?
Why Native Plants Are The Best Choice For Eco Friendly Gardens
Native plants are your gardening superheroes. They use less water, require less care, and provide better habitat for local wildlife than exotic species can ever dream of. Best of all?
Native plants are already adapted to your climate, so they’re much easier to care for.
Here’s another great reason to choose natives for your eco friendly garden…
Planning your native plant garden doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Working with expert landscape design in Raleigh professionals can help you select species perfectly suited to North Carolina’s climate. In fact, it can be as simple as this:
- Stop planting new flowers and grasses that need watering and chemicals to survive.
- Replace them with plants that have been growing in your region for thousands of years.
These are the plants that birds and butterflies know how to eat, the plants that local critters use for nesting and hiding from predators, and the plants that simply blend into the background of your regional landscape.
Not to mention…
These are the plants that are adapted to your local soil and weather patterns. No more wondering why that gorgeous plant you bought at the nursery died last summer. Native plants take the guesswork out of gardening.
Your gardening labor just got a whole lot easier. No more hauling hoses around to water during dry spells. You won’t have to research the best fertilizer to feed your plants, either. Natives can do it all themselves with minimal help from you.
It sounds almost too good to be true, right? But here’s the thing…
If you want your yard to be a little more eco friendly and a whole lot more sustainable, native plants are your best friend.
Native plants are in the forefront of sustainable gardening right now. In fact, 17% of US adults have purchased native plants this year. That’s 44.5 million people committed to eco-friendly gardening.
Native plants just work. They make so much sense if you’re looking to transform your yard into a natural oasis.
How Native Plants Conserve Water (And Help The Environment)
How much water does your garden use?
Did you know that outdoor water use can account for up to 70% of your total residential water use? That’s a LOT of water (and money) going straight down the drain…or rather, the hose.
Native plants help cut those numbers way down.
How? Because natives know how to survive with the rainfall your area gets each year. Once established, most native plants need little to no supplemental watering. Their deep roots can reach water way down in the soil that shallow-rooted exotic plants can’t.
Check this out. A community in Colorado did a test and found that by swapping out their thirsty exotic plants for native ones, they reduced their water use by 15 million gallons every year.
That’s 138 average-sized swimming pools worth of water that’s now available for more important things than keeping your yard green.
Native plants help conserve water by…
- Grabbing deep water sources with extensive root systems
- Needing less irrigation once they’re established
- Helping improve soil structure to retain moisture
- Reducing runoff and erosion
- Filtering rainwater naturally
You’ll love your lower water bill. And the environment will thank you, too.
The Best Native Plant Benefits
What other benefits do native plants have? Let’s take a closer look.
First, check this out. Here are some of the top native plant benefits to consider as you build your eco friendly garden.
Avoid Chemicals
Native plants have been around for thousands of years. They’ve evolved alongside local pests and know how to take care of themselves without your help. That means…
- No expensive chemical pesticides or fertilizers
- No runoff of harsh toxins into the water supply
- Healthier soil biology
- Safer places for kids and pets
Pretty sweet, right?
Wildlife Wonderland
Want more butterflies, bees, and birds in your garden?
Choose native plants. Native plants are pollinator magnets, supplying the exact nectar, pollen, and habitat these beneficial insects and wildlife need to thrive. Want to create a certified wildlife habitat?
Begin with the plants! Experts say you need to have at least 70% native plant cover to support a sustainable population of local wildlife. It’s not an all-or-nothing thing, either.
You can start by converting small areas of your garden to native plants and see how it goes. A certain percentage threshold (around 70%) is where you begin to see the magic happen.
Low Maintenance Zone
Native plants are tough. They’re survivors. They know how to live in your climate without much help from you. Here’s what you can expect from a low-maintenance native plant garden once it’s established:
- Little watering needed (if any)
- Fertilizer unnecessary
- Rare pest control
- Less plant turnover
Sounds pretty good, right? Natives give you more time to sit back and enjoy your garden rather than work in it all the time.
Seasonal Interest All Year
Native plants aren’t just another boring green you stuff in the ground and hope for the best. Natives come in every imaginable color, texture, and form and provide interest all year long.
From dazzling spring wildflowers to gorgeous fall foliage, native plants have so much more to offer than exotic flowers.
Want to Build An Eco Friendly Garden With Native Plants?
Here are a few tips to get you started on the right foot with native plants in your garden.
Do Your Homework
Research native plants for your specific location before you buy. What works in one area of the country may not be appropriate for your area. Check with local extension services, native plant societies, and specialized nurseries to get pointed in the right direction.
Start Small
You don’t have to tear out your whole garden in one fell swoop and start over. Begin by converting a small area to natives, perhaps an existing bed or a small patch of lawn. Watch how they do in your conditions and make changes as needed.
It can be helpful to tackle a visible area of your garden first (close to your patio, for instance) where you’ll be able to see the results and tweak as you go.
Mix It Up
Don’t go native only in one spot of your yard and stick with exotics everywhere else.
The idea of building an eco friendly garden is to create an ecosystem on your property, which means incorporating…
- Native trees for structure and wildlife habitat
- Shrubs for year-round interest
- Perennial flowers for pollinators
- Native grasses for texture and movement
Mixing up different types of plants adds diversity and strength to your garden ecosystem. Multiple plant species will support multiple wildlife species.
Be Patient
Native plants can be slower to establish than more aggressive exotics. In their first year, natives are busy building deep root systems. Don’t expect fireworks in the growth department.
Give it time. As the old adage says:
“First year they sleep, second year they creep, third year they leap.”
Maintain Naturally
Once your native plant garden is established, take a hands-off approach to its maintenance. Let fallen leaves mulch themselves into the soil. Leave seed heads standing through winter to provide food and habitat for wildlife. Aim for a more natural, cottage-garden look that emulates how things grow in the wild.
Final Thoughts
Building an eco friendly garden with native plants is easier than you might think. In fact, it’s actually less complicated than a traditional garden because you’re not constantly fighting against the forces of nature.
The benefits start piling up pretty quickly, too.
You’ll have…
- MASSIVE water savings
- Reduced maintenance needs
- Lower costs
- A thriving wildlife population
- Healthier ecosystems