What’s Up Watershed? May Edition
Welcome back to “What’s Up Watershed”! Throughout Pennsylvania, spring is in full force! Cherry blossom trees are showing their beautiful flowers, tulips are nodding their colorful heads in the breeze, and lilacs are casting their delightful scents to our noses. What a wonder!
While these species are some of the most beautiful reminders of spring, they’re not necessarily the best at supporting Pennsylvania’s wildlife. The reason: none are native to our state! One of the simplest ways to help our environment can start with the plants you choose to grow outside your home. Today, we’ll explore how to make your home more nature-friendly with native plants!
Chris Bunn
PRC Environmental Program Coordinator
p.s. It’s easy to identify YOUR watershed! To learn which watershed you live in, visitRiver Runner, a virtual tool thatmaps the journey of a drop of water through your local watershed!
Native plants are plant species that have evolved and occur naturally in a particular region or ecosystem. Non-native species such as the majority of lawn grasses were introduced here by human activities, whereas native species such as butterfly milkweed occur naturally here without human intervention. Since native plants evolved alongside Pennsylvania’s wildlife, many species require them as vital sources of habitat, food, and shelter. Because our communities are often dominated by non-native lawns and landscapes, it’s becoming more difficult for iconic species such as the monarch butterfly to find what they need to survive.
No matter where you live or how much space you have, native plants can be easily incorporated into any landscape. If you’re like me and live in a city, you can grow some beautiful native flowers in pots along your stoop or sidewalk! If you’re in the suburbs and have a lawn you’re tired of mowing, you could replace part of it with a native pollinator garden. It could even be as simple as planting a few native plants in your existing garden beds.
By following these three easy steps, you can figure out which native plants work on your property, where to find them, and how to care for them!
- ASSESS YOUR PROPERTY Take a walk around your property and imagine the possibilities! What kinds of spaces do you see for plants, shrubs, or trees? Will you need containers, or will you plant right into the ground? If you have a lawn, will you consider removing some sod and planting that area instead? Once you’ve identified potential areas, observe the light. Is it shady or sunny? How many hours of light does it receive per day? If you’re planting in the ground, get out a shovel or trowel. What kind of soil do you have? Is it wet, medium, or dry? All of these considerations will help you pick the right native plants for your area.
- SELECT PLANTS AND FIND A NURSERY Now, imagine the kinds of plants you desire. What color flowers? When will you want them to bloom? What size will they be? What textures do you prefer? If you’d like to add a shrub or tree, how tall should it be? What kind of wildlife do you want to attract — butterflies, birds, bees? Check out this guide on “Native Plants for the Small Yard” for more guidance in this process. Once you know which plants you want to purchase, it’s time to find a nursery! For a list of native nurseries across the state, visit the PA Native Plant Society’s webpage. If you prefer to order online, check out Izel Native Plants. Big box stores such as Home Depot and Lowes also tend to offer native plants.
- PLANT AND MAINTAIN YOUR GARDEN Now that you’ve acquired your native plants, it’s time to put them in the soil! When planting, make sure to loosen up the roots with your hands and follow guidance about correct spacing and watering requirements. Generally it’s best to water deeper instead of more frequently, but once established, your plants likely won’t require much irrigation. No need to use fertilizers either, since native plants are adapted to survive without them. Make sure to pull weeds at least monthly so your plants don’t get outcompeted. Invasive species can be particularly pernicious!
Thanks for sticking around to learn more about how you can make your property more nature-friendly with native plants. With Pennsylvania losing approximately 350 acres of wildlife habitat every day, every native planting can make a difference! Take care, and I’ll see you next month!
CLICK HERE to read April 2024 blog: April Showers: The Journey of a Spring Raindrop
CLICK HERE to learn more about watershed protection
Meet PRC Environmental Program Coordinator Chris Bunn
On a day-to-day basis, Chris’ work includes creating watershed-focused educational content and supporting the implementation of nature-based solutions to residential stormwater pollution. In his free time, Chris enjoys writing and performing original music, growing food, and nerding out about native plants.
