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Lawncare
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Native
Plants
Why
Plant Native Plants In Your Yard And Garden?
Native
plants provide a beautiful, hardy, drought resistant, low maintenance landscape
while benefiting the environment. Native plants, once established, save time and
money by eliminating or significantly reducing the need for fertilizers,
pesticides, water and lawn maintenance equipment.
 Native
plants do not require fertilizers. Vast amounts
of fertilizers are applied to lawns. Excess phosphorus and nitrogen (the main
components of fertilizers) run off into lakes and rivers causing excess algae
growth. This depletes oxygen in our waters, harms aquatic life and interferes
with recreational uses.
Native plants require fewer pesticides than
lawns. Nationally,
over 70 million pounds of pesticides are applied to lawns each year. Pesticides
run off lawns and can contaminate rivers and lakes. People and pets in contact
with chemically treated lawns can be exposed to pesticides.
Native plants require less water than lawns.
The modern lawn requires significant amounts of water to thrive. In urban areas,
lawn irrigation accounts for as much as 30% of the water consumption on the East Coast
and up to 60% on the West Coast. The deep root systems of many native Midwestern
plants increase the soil's capacity to store water. Native plants can
significantly reduce water runoff and, consequently, flooding.
Native plants help reduce air pollution.
Natural landscapes do not require mowing. Lawns, however, must be mowed
regularly. Gas powered garden tools emit 5% of the nation's air pollution. Forty
million lawnmowers consume 200 million gallons of gasoline per year. One
gas-powered lawnmower emits 11 times the air pollution of a new car for each
hour of operation. Excessive carbon from the burning of fossil fuels contributes
to global warming. Native plants sequester, or remove, carbon from the air.
Native plants provide shelter and food for
wildlife. Native plants attract a variety of
birds, butterflies, and other wildlife by providing diverse habitats and food
sources. Closely mowed lawns are of little use to most wildlife.
Native plants promote biodiversity and stewardship of our natural heritage.
In the U.S., approximately 20 million acres of lawn are cultivated, covering
more land than any single crop. Native plants are a part of our natural
heritage. Natural landscaping is an opportunity to reestablish diverse native
plants, thereby inviting the birds and butterflies back home.
Native plants save money.
A study by Applied Ecological Services (Brodhead, WI) of larger properties
estimates that over a 20 year period, the cumulative cost of maintaining a
prairie or a wetland totals $3,000 per acre versus $20,000 per acre for
non-native turf grasses.
(Source:
Environmental Protection Agency)
For
more information:
WildOnes:
Ann Arbor Chapter: Links to native plant photos/descriptions, local
suppliers/landscapers, and other resources
http://www.for-wild.org/chapters/annarbor/
WildOnes
Native Plant Handbook: Comprehensive guide that covers the basic and much more
http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/greenacres/wildones/
Landscaping
with Native Plants: Answers to all of the questions that you’ve always wanted
to ask about native plants
http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/greenacres/resources.html#Native%20Plants
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