When planning your lawn maintenance this fall, remember that the best plants for your yard are usually natives that have adapted to the particular soil and climate in your area. They produce seeds that attract birds and repel pests. This natural relationship to your environment makes them worth the extra effort it might take to find them. Once you get them home, plant and groom your yard in an environmentally sustainable manner.
Where to Shop for Native Plants
Unfortunately, large retail garden shops don’t always offer plants that are best for the local area. The big chain stores present shoppers with plants that are easy for them to buy, transport, maintain, and, most importantly, sell. Familiar flowers like pansies and chrysanthemums fill their greenhouses. But these aren’t always the best for the home gardener because they won’t thrive in local soils without many hours of feeding and watering. In addition, chains often sell plants that are highly invasive. These non-native species out-compete and replace plants that are best for your yard. They are also bad for the environment because animals have evolved to feed on their seeds and fruits. Loosing them means that they have less food. Non-natives make bad neighbors: they trollop across gardens and even roam into your other yards!
Thankfully, the practice of selling hot house specials and non-natives is slowly changing as businesses recognize that customers are demanding them to be more environmentally and socially responsible. However, in the meantime, do yourself a favor by shopping at smaller, locally owned businesses or online for potted plants and seeds. Take a little extra time to learn from knowledgeable vendors about the varieties of plants that will thrive in your yard. In the long run, you will save money and time as plants that spread by roots and seed will come back next year to reward your efforts. Plants suited to the soil and climate won’t need extra watering and they won’t need to be synthetically fertilized.
Choose Plants for Their Relationship to Your World
In addition to choosing plants for your lawn that will thrive in the local climate and save money, remember to feed birds and wildlife. For example, look for flowers that attract hummingbirds like Columbine, Trumpet Creeper, Jewelweed, and Cardinal Flower. There are many plants that attract hummingbirds, like Salvia, that come in colors in addition to their well-known red variety. Becoming more knowledgeable about plants can be fun and even spiritually satisfying.
Some plants that attract birds are annuals (die after one year; may come back from seed next year) and some are perennials (spread from the roots year after year). While feeding the birds, you can also plan a color scheme and choose plants that suit the amount of time you have to devote to gardening.
Other native plants attract butterflies. Asters and Milkweeds are a great source of nectar. Some, like the Pawpaw, are important as a host plant: Zebra Swallowtails use Pawpaw and only Pawpaw in their reproductive cycle. Yarrow hosts Painted Lady butterflies.
In dry areas, learn about “xeriscaping” your lawn. Replace thirsty grass with drought tolerant plants. In the Chesapeake Bay area, employ “BayScaping” techniques to conserve and to reduce runoff and pollution that sends nutrients to the Bay.
Employ Sustainable Practices
As the chill of fall turns to winter, many homeowners are in the habit of raking leaves. Don't do it! Save yourself the time and energy while leaving the natural fertilization provided by leaf litter as a healthy blanket over lawn and flower beds. Microbes will break them up, but if you must, run your lawn mower over grassy areas to give them a jump start.
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