Plant Wisely

Plants, shrubs and trees grow well when they are suited to the local climate, soil and wildlife. If you have chosen a plant or shrub that requires fertilizers, pesticides, or extra watering, it might not the best plant or shrub for your location. Plant Wisely means nothing more than using plantings tailored to your yard’s conditions. 

Many native plants can be grown from seed

Native plants are easy and need little care

Find a good quality nursery in your area

The weeding is more work in the beginning

Understand local challenges, like deer

Many landscapers lack garden knowledge

Wise planting results in easier gardening in the long run. When selecting plants also consider local challenges like deer and invasives. Regretfully, not many landscapers today are aware of the wide range of possibilities of plants, and don’t always know how to care for them.

Native plants, shrubs and trees have developed over thousands of years, evolving alongside insects and animals. Native plants are naturally adapted to sustain local weather and soil conditions. They also perform the vital function of providing a food source or breeding habitat for important native pollinators, some of whom, like the Monarch butterfly, are very plant specific.

With much of their habitat lost and many native plants replaced with exotics, some wildlife species have become endangered and their survival depends on us. The best way to help is by re-creating natural habitat in our yards and by planting natives. The big advantage of natives is that they require little attention. Once established natives don’t need watering or fertilizers.

Nurseries, and online vendors, are starting to sell natives, and there are plenty of beautiful species to choose from. We recommend you to visit a native plant center in your area or/and ask your local nursery to stock natives as well. People who are passionate about sustainable gardening are often willing to share seeds and cuttings. Don’t be too shy to ask!

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