Why is it so important to plant species in your garden that are native to your region?
Native plants...
1. Use less water
Lawns use as much as 60% of our water consumption. Native plants are built for our chaparral region, meaning that they are naturally drought-tolerant or require significantly smaller amounts of water than the modern lawn.
2. Support local wildlife and biodiversity
Native plants attract native birds, insects, and other wildlife! The modern lawn, on the other hand, is relatively useless to most wildlife.
3. Use less fertilizers and pesticides
They do not require fertilizers, unlike non-native plants. Water runoff that contains plant fertilizers carries a vast amount of nutrients from the fertilizer into natural bodies of water. An excess of nutrients in water (a phenomenon known as eutrophication) contributes to algal blooms in the water which then destroys the natural balance of marine species due to low oxygen levels in the water.
4. Reduce runoff
Native plants often have deep root systems that have the capacity to store water. Planting native plants can ensure that your yard or garden experiences minimal erosion.
5. Reduce air pollution
They do not need to be mowed. This means that you will emit less atmospheric pollutants from the burning of fossil fuels from your lawnmower, decreasing your carbon footprint and contribution to global warming. Additionally, in a process known as carbon sequestration, plants take in atmospheric carbon (carbon dioxide) and use it in the process of photosynthesis.
Resources:
Check out the California Native Plant Society's native plant finder. Just type in your zip code and it will provide you with hundreds of plants that are native to your area. This list can function as a guide to buying plants when you are ready to start gardening!
West Basin Municipal Water District has a grass rebate program that will give you up to $4/square foot of grass that you replace with native plants!
Here's a video about the LA Native Plant Source Garden:
Thank you! I've already spent an hour looking through this and picking new native plants! Lots of fun. 😊