Creating Wildlife Habitats With Native Plants
Why Should You Use Native Plants?
Landscaping with native plant species can be one of the most fulfilling
projects a gardener can pursue. With more of South Carolina’s natural ecosystems
being devoured by urban sprawl, many of our native plants and animals need
help for survival. By landscaping your yard with natives you create a natural
ecosystem that will provide you with years of enjoyment while also benefiting
your local environment. South Carolina has some of the most diverse and
beautiful flora on the continent. Our native wildlife is also something
to be proud of. By maintaining a native landscape you can invite all types
of living things into your backyard.
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Native Landscaping:
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Creates habitat for local plants and animals.
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Is less susceptible to native insect and disease infestations.
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Is better adapted to withstand regional environmental stresses, i.e. drought.
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Is more easily maintained than introduced plants.
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Blends with adjacent woodlands to create an "endless" yard.
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What Can You Do To Attract Wildlife?
As already mentioned, the best thing you can do to attract wildlife
is to plant native plants. Wild animals need three things to feel comfortable
in your back yard, food, water, and shelter. Providing these three basic
conditions will fill your yard with an abundance of birds, butterflies,
and other creatures. All of these criteria can be met with a little careful
planning. By selecting an appropriate combination of native plants you
can provide animals with food and shelter, and water can be as simple as
installing a birdbath. Trees and shrubs provide shelter and nesting area
for birds and small mammals, while plants that produce fruits, berries,
and nuts provide them with food.
What Should You Plant?
Trees are a good place to start if you want a woodland setting; oaks,
maples, and dogwoods are wonderful native trees to have in a landscape.
These can be surrounded by shrubs such as rhododendron and mountain laurel.
Many herbaceous perennials are native to our area and would blend wonderfully
into a woodland setting. These include Oconee bells, Jack-In-The-Pulpit,
and many ferns. This type of environment is perfect for squirrels and chipmunks,
not to mention all of the birds that will visit your paradise.
If the woodland forest does not work into your plans try a native wildflower
garden. Many native wildflowers provide beauty year-round. As beautiful
as we find wildflowers, local wildlife also find them enticing. Butterfly
weed, milkweed, and Black-eyed Susans are guaranteed to bring in droves
of butterflies.
Some other local favorites include many members of the primrose, evening
primrose, and sunflower families. Morning glory, while somewhat intrusive,
is a beautiful vine for an unkempt area. There are also a few species of
clematis native to our area that are also attractive.
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It must be stressed that native species should
not be removed from the wild!
Native species are very important to the ecosystems that
they represent. Removal of plants from the wild along with development
of natural areas has put a serious strain on our native species. There
are many reputable nurseries that supply native plants through various
propagation techniques without disturbing our natural populations.
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Using native plants to landscape your yard can be very
enjoyable and beneficial. Native landscapes encourage a multitude of life
right outside your backdoor. Hopefully everyone will soon learn to appreciate
our native environments.
For Further Information, The Following References Are
Very Helpful.
Beaubaire, Nancy. Native Perennials.
Science Press. Brooklyn, NY. 1996.
Loewer, P. and C. Tufts. "Garden for
Wildlife." Organic Gardening.Nov.-
Dec, 1997. v. 44. pg. 28(6).
Ottesen, Carole. Native Plant Primer, The.
Harmony Books. New York. 1995.
Roth, Sally. Natural Landscaping. Rodale
Press, Inc. Emmaus, PA. 1997.
Scott, Jane. Field and Forest. Walker
Publishing Company, Inc. 1992.
Written By:
S. Cory Tanner