- Wildlife
Your garden and landscape are not just eye candy; they are natural habitats for some wildlife like birds and mammals. By planting native plants in your garden, you are contributing to protecting and taking care of these creatures. You are contributing to the circle of life. And this circle of life goes deeper than the birds or assorted mammals you’ll “bump shoulders” with. If you love gardens, chances are that you love nature too. Nothing reinforces this preference like native plants.
- Little maintenance
Native plants have been around for generations. They have evolved with time to cope perfectly with their natural surroundings. This implies that they are drought resistant and don’t succumb easily to pests.
Considering that they are drought resistant, it means you don’t have to use a lot of water to sustain their lives. That saves your water bill, saves the earth because you are conserving water, and saves time because you don’t have to water them often. They enable you to live a carefree life and still enjoy a beautiful garden.
- Aesthetics
No matter how much artistic skill we have, it is a challenge to surpass nature when it comes to beauty. Native plants, especially native grass types, are beautiful all year round provided they are healthy. Even if you plant them without much thought, they will still give your garden or landscape a unique appearance. Their seasonal changes in terms of color and look – particularly their leaves and flowers – make them exceptional when it comes to visual appeal.
- Health
Plants play a crucial role when it comes to clean and breathable air on earth. I think if there is only one reason you should plant native plants in your garden, it should be this one.
Native plants help clean up the air by breathing in carbon dioxide during the day and releasing oxygen instead. However, take note that they do the opposite at night. If you have a portable garden like something in a vase, you want to take it outside at night because it will breathe the same as you; take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide instead. That means at night, you’ll be fighting for air and that may not be healthy if you are in a confined space. But during the day, plants provide some of the freshest air you can ever breathe. Ever wondered why gardens, forests, or areas with plants are so refreshing? Nevertheless, I must admit, some plants have foul smells, they are the exception.
Also, remember that plants contribute to the formation of rainfall. Albeit a garden is small and may seem insignificant from one person’s point of view, if you plant native plants, and your neighbor does the same, and the entire neighborhood echoes, and we increase the scope to the entire city, they will be enough to influence the climate of the city. Probably a city that is healthy with frequent rainfall, which means more clean water for everybody.
- Soil Conservation
Plants play an important role in soil conservation. Their deep roots trap soil and moisture, and their trunks and stems function as windbreakers. The roots prevent the soil from both water and wind erosion while the trunks and stems safeguard the soil from wind erosion. Furthermore, by trapping water using their roots, they force it to sip into the ground rather than just float and flow. This in a way helps in preventing floods.
- Diversity
Native plants are available in different types and species. If they are from the same region, chances are that they grow well together. They give you variety, in that, you don’t have to get different soils for different plants since all the plants you have will thrive in the soil you have.
The best way to swim in a river is to go with the flow of the current. Swimming against the current will require too much effort and chances are that you’ll get exhausted before you even get halfway through to your destination. However, swimming with the flow of the current will make the swim easy and enjoyable. The same is true about planting native plants in your garden or landscape.
