Happy Earth Day, Saratoga! Looking for a simple way to give back to your planet and beautify your yard at the same time? Give native plants and naturalization a try!
Typical yard maintenance today involves mowing your lawn, spraying weeds, and spreading fertilizer over vast areas. Instead of spending time and money on these approaches, the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) recommends an alternative that is good for your wallet and for the environment.
“The single most important thing property owners can do to cut energy use and protect pollinators is to allow more diverse and natural vegetation to cover their land,” the DEC said in a statement. “Native plants and naturalized areas need less watering, do not need fertilizing, and are more resistant to local pests, reducing the need for toxic pesticides.”
To get started in your own yard, you can let part of your lawn that you would normally mow transition back into a meadow that you can cut back a few times a year. Continue by planting native species or removing non-native ones from that area. The naturalized environment that will result from these methods allows butterflies, hummingbirds, and native bees to thrive, and the energy you save by mowing your lawn less frequently can help combat global warming.
The DEC recommends investigating the following native plants as potential additions to your yard:
- Acer rubrum (red maple)
- Asclepias tuberosa (butterfly weed)
- Aster novi-belgii (New York aster)
- Echinacea purpurea (purple coneflower)
- Monarda didyma (bee balm)
Ready to get started? Place a seedling order through the State Tree Nursery in Saratoga Springs!
