What you CAN do.

Why do native plants matter?

At Homegrown National Park, you can look up keystone species for your area, listen to experts, find resources and add your native plant garden to the map! https://homegrownnationalpark.org/

View/listen to a great talk from Doug Tallamy on the importance of gardening for wildlife here.

How about plants recommended for our feathered friends? The Audobon Society’s database takes your location and provides you with a list! (Hand & Petal Tip: Lists generated from native plant databases are a great place to start. However, take time to become familiar with the mature size of the plant, the blooming/fruiting time, the soil and moisture needs, before planting to increase chances of success. Or work with Hand & Petal Landscapes or another experienced native plant garden designer/installer.)

Tell me more about wildlife…

Why think about wildlife when gardening? Read Nancy Lawson’s blog, The Humane Gardener. (Hand & Petal Tip: Not all of us live on multi-acre property. We may have neighbors, city regulations, pets or other considerations. Still, the spirit of The Humane Gardener is something we can all learn from.)

What can I do TODAY?

(Hand & Petal note: these are taken directly from Doug Tallamy’s Hub. There are more suggestions there.)

• REDUCE YOUR NIGHTTIME LIGHT POLLUTION Research is showing that our porch and security lights are major causes of insect decline. Consider turning off your lights at night. Or use motion sensor security lights that light up only when an intruder enters your yard.  If nothing else, replace the white bulb in your lights with yellow tinted bulbs (yellow LED bulbs are the best). Yellow wavelengths are the least attractive to nocturnal insects.

• CREATE SAFETY FOR CRITTERS Each year millions of toads, frogs, and other small creatures become trapped in our window wells where they slowly starve to death. Installing cheap window well covers can reduce these needless deaths to zero.

• ENJOY LONG LAWN Set your mower height no lower than 3 inches. This will give you healthier, greener grass that requires less watering but also mows safely over a box turtle or toad! Try not to mow in the evening when many nocturnal species leave their hiding places.

• DO NOT SPRAY OR FERTILIZE Insecticides and herbicides are antithetical to the goals of HOMEGROWN NATIONAL PARK.  Less evident is that fertilizers are also unnecessary.  Creating soils rich in organic matter is entirely sufficient for healthy plants.

Where can I buy my own plants when I’m ready?

It is important to source plants that are pesticide free and/or are grown using Integrated Pesticide Management techniques where natural pest management has been used. In particular, look for plants that are neonicitinoid free. Neonicitonoids are a class of pesticides that remain in plants and negatively impact pollinators such as bees, butterflies, moths, birds, often killing them. Carefully read all information about how the plants are grown before you order or buy. As an example, consider the important information provided by the Garden for Wildlife Shop of the National Federation of Wildlife for this collection of plants they call the Monarch Munchables. Do your research to find local nurseries that sell locally grown native plants in an environmentally responsible manner. You can also work with Hand & Petal Landscapes or another experienced native plant garden designer/installer.