Use Native Plants In Your Garden This Spring

Are you wondering which plants to start growing in your garden this spring?  You might want to consider going native for minimal maintenance throughout the year, but while it this sounds good, many question the green wisdom behind this notion.

Simply speaking, native plants make ideal garden plants because they are uniquely suited to growing in their native area. This translates to less work and resources. Since native plants have spent centuries adapting to your area’s natural geographic conditions, they aren’t going to need much in the way of supplemental fertilizer, spraying or winter mulching.

Native plants also tend to behave better than other plants in your garden. Having evolved within the community, they are rarely invasive and have natural predators that help to keep them in check. In addition, local wildlife species have developed a relationship with native plants for generations relying on them for food, shelter and nesting. So a garden filled with native plants is likely to attract its own share of birds and butterflies.

You might be wondering where to find plants that are native to your geography. Local nurseries and park departments are your best resource.  They will often release native plant lists in conjunction with seasonal sales. PlantNative, is an invaluable online resources that provides a comprehensive list of native plant nurseries and sources of native plants, broken down by state.  eNature.com also provides resources for native gardening along with an invasive plants guide.