It’s a colorful time of year in Southwest Washington, as nature’s floral lushness is on full display. If the springtime blooms have you inspired to add some vegetation to your home, choose plants that will reap the maximum benefit with the least amount of effort or resources.
“You can’t go wrong when you plant native plants,” Clark Public Utilities Invasive Species Coordinator Brad Mead said. “Not only do they look great, but, because they’re already adapted to our local climate, they require little to no extra care once they’re established.”
Plus, native plants provide critical food and habitat for our local pollinators, birds and other wildlife. Stick a few around your home — in the ground or a pot — and you’ll be amazed how many bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and other critters drop by for a visit.
It’s tempting to impulse buy some of those pretty plants with their flowers on full display outside the big-box store, but don’t give in. As lovely as they may be, those plants usually come from climates far from our own, often won’t survive without plenty of extra assistance from you and can even come pretreated with insecticides which can harm bees. Plus, many of those plants aren’t beneficial to the creatures in your community.
“Native plants are a key element of our local food web,” Mead said. “Plants produce leaves that are toxic to most insects, but each kind of caterpillar is immune to a particular plant’s defenses and cannot feed on others. Without native plants, caterpillar populations plummet and they are a critically important food source to our native birds. Don’t worry, a bit of munching from caterpillars will stimulate growth and won’t harm your plants.”
By planting native plants, you can save money and time. You won’t need to invest in extra fertilizers or drive up your water bill tending to your ornamental garden. Instead of working on the yard, you’ll get to sit back and drink in the view. Mother Nature will do all the work — save for the occasional weed you may need to pull.
Not sure what plants are native and what aren’t? The Washington Native Plant Society is a great place to learn. Their website, www.wnps.org, is full of useful information to help grow your knowledge. Browse their plant directories and lists, get helpful information for growing different types of gardens, learn about invasive plants and much more — including a list of nurseries and seed sources.
You can also visit our local nurseries to find out which of their plants are natives and which aren’t. They’ll also be able to help you identify which plants will grow best at your home.
But before you go, make some notes about your site. Head outside and look around. Is your property sunny, shaded or mixed? How is the soil? Is it sandy and quick to dry out? Is it thick with clay and very slow to drain? Or is it rich loam? Do you have overhead or buried power lines or other utilities nearby? Finally, ask yourself about your goals for the site. What do you want it to look like?
“It’s easy to fall in love with a certain type of plant. But that relationship isn’t going to work out if it’s the wrong plant for your circumstances — whether it’s native or not,” Mead said. “At best you’ll have to do extra work and provide extra water to keep it healthy and happy, at worst it’ll die pretty quickly.”
To find out more about growing native plants at your home visit our website, clarkpublicutilities.com and search “Native Plants Grow Happy Here.”
Energy Adviser is written by Clark Public Utilities. Send questions to ecod@clarkpud.com or to Energy Adviser, c/o Clark Public Utilities, P.O. Box 8900, Vancouver, WA 98688.
