A few months ago, a Reddit user successfully transformed his yard into a beautiful rain garden full of native plants and was happy to share the results.
Their month-long project offers excellent appeal by creating a space where local wildlife (frogs) immediately begin to congregate. At the time of publication the gardener was awaiting replanting of native plants such as marsh rose, strawberry, tortoiseshell and cardinal.
After removing some nearby plants and strategically placing tree trunk slices around the garden, what was once a grassy plain was transformed into a little paradise. Yes, it sounds amazing, but what's even more amazing is what it can do for the environment.
Native gardens are often the ecological heroes of natural selection and differ for each growing region of the world. When plants are native to a particular area, they grow and thrive without human intervention. Less fertilizer and water are needed because nature takes care of it.
Likewise, a local garden increases water conservation, frees up water resources and reduces water bills. Using less fertilizer means you reduce exposure to potentially harmful contaminants that can leach into groundwater.
During the summer it is not necessary to cut native plants every week. People who live in desert climates and who weed and maintain waterless gardens need not worry about this weekly task.
For others, cover crops like buffalo grass and clover are a good option to avoid constant mowing. Even if a person decides to replace an ear with only one of these options, they will still save time and money maintaining their lawn.
Another benefit of a native garden is that it attracts wildlife. While many people flee in fear of bees and other beneficial animals, the gardening community welcomes them with open arms. They know that the presence of pollinators is a good sign of a healthy ecosystem and healthy food production.
Without pollinators, flowers, herbs and vegetables will produce less or not grow at all. People can enjoy the fruits of their gardening because pollinators exist. However, these joyful sights are becoming rare as environmental change creates challenging conditions for pollinator habitat.
Changing your approach to landscape and garden maintenance can benefit you, pollinators, and the environment as a whole.
They do not grow in the swamps and swamps of the Mississippi Delta in the Appalachian foothills. A plum tree in Maine will not be as productive as a Bing cherry tree in Oregon or Washington. Each of these plants grows best in its own region due to its native nature. While they are great examples of native plants, they can easily become a viable native garden in any yard. The earth can become a healthier place to live. Every garden brings the world closer to that wonderful goal, big or small.
Besides these awards, people love to watch.
"The wood chips look beautiful. It's so fun to see what kind of animals come out of them," said one viewer.
“Sounds terrible,” agrees another.
However, another user summed it up perfectly with this simple comment: "I hope to bring you only nice surprises."
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