Enjoying a beautiful garden around your home is a very pleasurable experience and for many, maintaining a garden is a favorite past time. Of course, what you decide to plant in your garden comes down to personal preferences but have you considered the many benefits of a native garden? Native plants help the environment and they can also look beautiful so why not make them part of your landscaping? Here are some tips on how to use native plants to achieve a more sustainable garden.
Support the ecosystem
The idea behind eco-friendly landscaping with native plants is to allow the gardener or landscaper to cause no harm to the ecosystem by taking into consideration all elements of the surrounding environment. Ideally, the garden will be designed with not only the climate and region in mind but also be thoughtful of the community culture.
One of the key elements of eco-friendly sustainable landscaping is to use plants native to your area or region. Native plants are those that thrive within the local area in which you reside, resulting in less maintenance being required when compared to exotic plants. Not only will the native plants thrive, but they will also help preserve and protect the natural ecosystem.
Your native garden will offer the optimum food and home for all manner of native animals such as native birds. Native plants will also assist in the prevention of soil erosion, and a number of native plants have root systems that run very deep which helps with water retention.
Avoid pesticides
To help make your landscaping eco-friendly, eliminate the use of pesticides and artificial fertilisers. Even though gardeners and landscapers commonly use pesticides and artificial fertilisers to keep weeds out of the landscaping, unfortunately the chemicals will work their way into the soil and groundwater system. Fortunately for gardeners and landscapers who choose native plants, there is less need for pesticides to keep the landscape free from weeds.
Go natural
If you do feel there is a need for pesticides in your particular garden then a more natural alternative could be your answer. A less toxic homemade insecticide will be gentler on the environment so it's certainly worth a try. A simple mixture of one part liquid dish soap and ten parts water is thought to assist with weed control. This is a safe, non-toxic and affordable option.
Be patient
Many native plants take their time before they become established so be patient in waiting for those magnificent flowers to appear or those wonderful fruits you can't wait to try. Just remember, it will all be worth waiting for even if it does take a year or two.
Native gardens are becoming more and more popular these days thanks to their beauty, their eco-friendly elements and the low level of maintenance they require. There are plenty of reasons to have a wonderful garden and even more to have a native garden. Get started on your native landscaping today and enjoy the beautiful flowers and wildlife it will attract for many years to come.
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