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Wherever you live, there are plants that are native to your environment. These plants are accustomed to the conditions where you live because they have adapted to be able to survive on their own. Lawn and landscape maintenance often requires large amounts of water, but using native plants could reduce the amount of water that you need. When you landscape with the plants that are native to your area, you are helping to conserve water because native plants don't need as much water as some other plants that are not accustomed to the climate and other conditions of your area.

There are several ways that landscaping with native plants helps the environment. When you landscape with native plants, you will need less water. When you don't plant native plants, then you have to water more, which causes water pollution. Also landscaping with native plants provides a habitat for endangered native plants and the creatures that have always depended on them.

Landscaping with native plants reduces your need to use fertilizers and pesticides. Plants that are not native to our climate and precipitation will not survive without help from us. When we try to keep a plant alive and well that is not native to our area, we cause several problems for the environment. We have to use fertilizers, pesticides, and gallons of water just to keep them alive. By using native plants, when landscaping, you can reduce the amount of work needed to keep things looking nice, as well as reducing the amount of fertilizers, pesticides, and water you might need.

By landscaping with native plants, you are helping to preserve the natural habitat for the diminishing number of native plants in the world. Also, by landscaping with native plants, you are supporting the wildlife and native insects that depend on them for survival. If all of the native insects and plants die out, it may make all of the non-native pests a bigger problem.

Garden Hose Photo courtesy of FreeFoto.com

It is helpful to schedule a time early in the morning or in the evening for watering your lawn and garden. You should avoid watering in the heat of the afternoon, and you also shouldn't water more than about once a week. A good way to tell if your lawn needs watering is to step on it and when you move your foot if the grass stands back up you're good to go, but if it stays smashed down then you probably need to water.

Using mulch can effectively help reduce the amount of water that your plants need. Mulch helps keep water down in the ground, where the plants need it, for a longer period of time. Mulch will also help reduce the amount of weeds that could choke out your plants. Also, weeds sometimes absorb all of the water that you might have intended for your plants so you should try to keep as many weeds out as you can.

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