Sustainable Landscaping: Native Plants

Consider water quality in your landscapes

Utilizing native plants as much as possible in your own yard eliminates the need for outside inputs of fertilizer and pesticides whose excessive use in the suburban landscape can be a source of runoff or non-point source pollution. Many native plants have low water and maintenance requirement, virtually eliminating the need for watering and wasting of this precious resource. Once established these types of plants require little care and input in your own yard. As gardeners, each of us can make change in our own backyards. Together, millions of households doing similar things can have a cumulative and positive effect.

• Definition of native plants
• Contrast with non-native plants (exotics)
• Alternatives to traditional choices
• Benefits are low maintenance creating or enhancing biodiverse environments