Native Vegetation
Introduction
Plants native to the soils and climate of your specific area provide the best
overall food sources for wildlife, while generally requiring less fertilizer,
less water, and less effort in controlling pests. Native plants may support 10
to 50 times as many species of native wildlife as non-native plants. Too often,
exotic plants brought to our continent for their horticultural or wildlife value
spread rapidly and take over farm and woodland, and decimate native plants and
animals. Since native plantings can reduce the need for water and chemical
inputs and can maintain or enhance biological diversity, wildlife gardeners
concerned about conservation should strive toward incorporating native plantings
as much as possible in their plans.
When planting vegetation it is important to choose all vegetation carefully
as to ensure conditions are adequate for species survival. It is important to
first establish ground cover then add hearty plant species that can survive in
your specific site conditions. After you have established a vegetated base, more
species can be added to achieve the desired species richness. As time continues
you must manage and adapt your vegetation based on development of the plant
conditions. After correctly maintaining your vegetation for a period of time,
you can achieve the abundance of species and healthy vegetation for the optimal
vegetated site.
