GREEN LIFESTYLE

Organic Wines
Find Organic at your local wine store

Gibson Guitars Go Green
Smartwood is not only for building

Planting Native Species
Gardeners beware of invasive plants

Eat Fresh Local Food
Friendlier and Tastier

Backyard Habitat
Attract wildlife to your backyard

Composting
Gardeners call it Black Gold

Learn more about

Green Bar

Planting Native Species

Native grasses require less watering and are more resistant to pests than conventional lawn grasses because they''re suited to the local conditions and climate. They also make for prettier and more interesting lawns. Imagine lawn grass sprinkled with wildflowers and you'll see what I mean.

Why grow natives?

Plants native to the soils and climate of your specific area provide the best overall food sources for wildlife, while generally requiring less fertilizer, less water, and less effort in controlling pests.

Native plants may support 10 to 50 times as many species of native wildlife as non-native plants. Too often, exotic plants brought to our continent for their horticultural or wildlife value; spread rapidly and take over farm and woodland, and decimate native plants and animals.

Since native plantings can reduce the need for water and chemical inputs and can maintain or enhance biological diversity, wildlife gardeners concerned about conservation should strive toward incorporating native plantings as much as possible in their plans.

Learn How Invasive Plant Species can be destructive:  

Invasive species are non-native plants that are likely to cause harm to the local environment.  Invasive species cost at least $137 billion a year in economic losses due to crop losses, and control of aquatic and soil weeds.   Learn what plants and flowers that belong in your geographical region and be sure to plant local species.

URL: http://www.nwf.org/backyardwildlifehabitat/invasivespecies.cfm