As stewards of the Earth, we look for ways to help Her. One is to be alert to invasive plants that threaten the rich biodiversity of our area. Another is to use native plants in our gardens. A third way is to replace the grass in our yards with native ground cover.
Invasive plants overwhelm the areas that they are planted in. Once established, they crowd out the native plants, especially the endangered ones. Foreign plants provide little food and shelter to migrating birds and local animals. Instead, they turn the landscape into a barren monoculture.
Kudzu, from Japan, was planted throughout the U.S. South in the 1930s to nourish the depleted soil. Instead, this vine, free of its natural predators, exploded in rampant growth smothering entire landscapes. Today, kudzu is a grave menace.
To prevent invasive plants from overwhelming your land, try not to clear out native vegetation. Do not use foreign plants in your landscaping. Instead, use local plants bought at local nurseries, if possible.
By providing food for birds and insects, native plants can prevent the spread of invasive species. Well adapted to local conditions, native plants also improve soil fertility. Moreover, these plants require no pesticides and fertilizers as many foreign plants often do.
As stewards, we need to encourage the protection of native plants in our local towns and regions. Plants may not be as glamorous as animals but are as equally important. According to the U.S. Forest Service, “an extinction of a single plant species may result in the disappearance of up to thirty other species of plants and wildlife.”
Few people realize how much damage that maintaining a grass lawn does to the environment. Native to England, grass grows best where summers are cool and rainy. In North America, grass requires an ever increasing use of fertilizers and pesticides, and siphons off more of our precious water. Moreover grass does not provide adequate ground cover for animals or food for insects. In efforts to keep their lawns looking nice, people often kill the moles that dig underneath. Moles are essential to the health of the soil since they aerate the earth.
When confronted with the knowledge that perhaps our favorite plants are invasive, our enthusiasm wanes for eradicating foreign plants. For example, fennel and mugwort are invasive species in North America, but are often used by herbalists. However if we open ourselves up to new plants, we open ourselves up to new possibilities. Black cohosh, elder, and mint are native American species, which are beloved by many folks. We must realize that we may love an invasive plant, it does not love us. Remember kudzu.
To find native plants for your area, consult your local Native Plant Society. They will have lists of nurseries working with them to replant the countryside. When buying native plants, do not buy those dug up in the wild. Purchase only plants grown from seed stock in your immediate area.
When planning your garden, be aware of your local geography. Plants that grow in the woodlands require different things than those of the fields and meadows. If you have a sunny spot, you might try a “butterfly garden” with wildflowers to attract these insects. Remember to work with nature, not against her.
Purchase books on native plants and gardening items from Amazon.com
All Art is copyrighted by Mary Ann Sterling
Va. Carper
March 3, 2008