Why are natives so important?

Native plants are the foundation of our natural ecosystems. They are naturally adapted to their local climate and the root systems of native plant species generally grow deep into the soil, enabling them to survive in poor soils, drought periods, and weather extremes. Establishing a healthy, diverse native plant community is important as it will help to keep undesirable non-native and invasive species at bay, protect biodiversity, all while honoring a piece of our natural heritage.

Although the Midwest has lost much remnant native habitat over the last few centuries, native plant communities can be restored ecosystems and even recreated in landscaped settings. Native plants typically require little care and watering once established so planting them in place of traditional ornamental species can save you both time and money. Well-acclimated to natural soil fertility and compositions, as well as to fluctuating amounts of rainfall, native plants are low maintenance.  It is possible to spend thousands of dollars over the course of just a few years to maintain a landscape filled with non-native plants. Instead, consider spending a fraction of those maintenance costs on native plants!

Not only do native plants mitigate harmful effects on the environment by not requiring the use of pesticides and fertilizers, they also provide a wealth of other benefits. Native plants help preserve native animal and insect populations, and unlike non-native plants, provide natural shelter and food for wildlife. They also remove carbon dioxide and other pollutants from the air and. Finally, native plants require no mowing and little pruning by gas-powered garden tools, thereby reducing the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere.

Establishing Native Plants

Choosing the appropriate plants for your project is important for their long-term survival. A good starting point when selecting plants for a given area is to consider the landscape features such as wet areas and slope gradient in addition to site conditions, including soil composition, shaded areas, and nutrient load exposure.  If the topography and site conditions allow for more than one type of plant community, mapping the landscape features may assist in determining where to place different plant species.

Whether located within a formal garden or natural setting, W2W can provide expertise and develop a planting plan for you. Depending on your wants, goals, and landscape requirements, we usually incorporate several types of native plants in planting projects including warm and cool season grasses, sedges, legumes, and flowers that attract our native pollinators. We are happy to do the hard and dirty work and take extra care during installation to ensure a plant’s survival.  Services we offer include:

• Native garden design
• Pre-planting weed control
• Native plant selection
• Customized native seed mixtures
• Native plant and seed installation
• Native seed collection and processing
• Small native tree and shrub installation
• Mulching