As a nursery owner, I am often asked the question, 'What's so great about native plants?' First of all, native plants are easy to grow.
We are all busy people, and when we're not working, it's nice to enjoy being outdoors in a beautiful garden.
Native plants require much less maintenance than exotic plants, offering homeowners more opportunities to sit and enjoy the garden.
We all must do our part to conserve our natural resources -- especially water.
Plants native to the United States have acclimated themselves to our changing environment and can withstand drought, heat, and humidity.
Watering restrictions in drought prone areas of the country can mean the death of many garden plants, but there are many native plants that are extremely tolerant of low water conditions.
Pesticide use can be dangerous for people and pets, and native plants usually do not require spraying with pesticides to keep them healthy.
After all, these plants have lived with the same pests for many years.
Most natives are even deer-resistant.
Deer will often pass right by a native plant to enjoy something new and exotic, like your prized hosta! We all enjoy a little birdwatching, and most of us want to do our part in helping to preserve wildlife.
Did you know that native shrubs are an important source of food and nesting sites for birds and other wildlife? Quite a few exotic imported plants are so invasive in the southeastern United States that they can devour a whole field in just a few months.
So we all must be careful when making plant choices.
Who knows what plant will be the next Kudzu? In many cases, the American native plant is much more beautiful than it's imported counterpart.
The southeastern United States is home to some of the most beautiful plants I've ever seen.
And if you've been to Georgia in August, you know how uncomfortable the weather down here can be! So the next time you go to the garden center, choose a native plant!
We are all busy people, and when we're not working, it's nice to enjoy being outdoors in a beautiful garden.
Native plants require much less maintenance than exotic plants, offering homeowners more opportunities to sit and enjoy the garden.
We all must do our part to conserve our natural resources -- especially water.
Plants native to the United States have acclimated themselves to our changing environment and can withstand drought, heat, and humidity.
Watering restrictions in drought prone areas of the country can mean the death of many garden plants, but there are many native plants that are extremely tolerant of low water conditions.
Pesticide use can be dangerous for people and pets, and native plants usually do not require spraying with pesticides to keep them healthy.
After all, these plants have lived with the same pests for many years.
Most natives are even deer-resistant.
Deer will often pass right by a native plant to enjoy something new and exotic, like your prized hosta! We all enjoy a little birdwatching, and most of us want to do our part in helping to preserve wildlife.
Did you know that native shrubs are an important source of food and nesting sites for birds and other wildlife? Quite a few exotic imported plants are so invasive in the southeastern United States that they can devour a whole field in just a few months.
So we all must be careful when making plant choices.
Who knows what plant will be the next Kudzu? In many cases, the American native plant is much more beautiful than it's imported counterpart.
The southeastern United States is home to some of the most beautiful plants I've ever seen.
And if you've been to Georgia in August, you know how uncomfortable the weather down here can be! So the next time you go to the garden center, choose a native plant!
Source...