By Teri Silver
“Go native” isn’t just a buzz phrase for horticulturists; it’s the natural way to protect and strengthen your Florida landscape. With these seven benefits of planting and caring for native trees and shrubbery in your lawn, you’ll be nurturing your own special piece of planet Earth for many years to come.
What exactly does it mean to go native? The U.S. Forest Service defines native plants as naturally indigenous vegetation that has evolved in a particular habitat, ecosystem, and region. In Florida for example, Orlando’s native trees include the flowering dogwood, southern magnolia, Carolina buckthorn, and oak. Flowers, shrubs, vines, and grasses are also on the list. You can find indigenous trees and flowers growing all around the Sunshine State.
So … Go Native!
Here are a few benefits to adding indigenous shrubbery, trees, grasses, and flowers to your backyard oasis.
1. Reduce Chemical Runoff. Synthetic and organic fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides soak into the ground and then travel to aquifers and watersheds, polluting drinking water. Placing more native vegetation helps to catch and absorb the chemically charged water. Plus, native plants typically need less fertilizer and pesticides than non-natives.
2. Conserve Water. Water is essential for all living things. Florida’s average yearly rainfall varies, but trees, shrubs, vines, and other greenery need a good soaking at least once a week. Maturing plants may need more water than that, especially during extreme or prolonged droughts.
Native plants help to conserve water. In Florida, grasses such as St. Augustine, Zoysia, and Bermuda are common, but it takes a lot of water to keep these turfs lush and green. If it’s not raining, you’ll need to use the community’s reserved water supplies on your lawn. Ripping out sod might not be pleasant or practical, but planting trees, shrubs, ground cover, and vines in “bare areas” will fill these spots with greenery that won’t need a lot of water to grow. Consider digging a rain garden for high grasses and ornamental flowers.
3. Reduced Utility Bills. Watering your yard less often means lower water bills – so it’s a win-win!
Landscaping for shade can also save money on your electric bill, especially during those hot summer days. Leafy trees growing near the house keep the sun’s rays from overheating window glass. Trees shading the east and southwest sides of the house cool down the building. The U.S. Department of Energy estimated that energy-efficient landscaping can save up to 25 percent on your electric bill.
4. Protect and Encourage Pollinators. When sitting in your backyard or walking through one of Florida’s state forests, you’re bound to see birds, butterflies, and bees carrying pollen from flower to flower. Pollination produces violets, coreopsis, swamp mallow, salvia, and all the flowers in your tropical Florida landscape.
Trees and shrubbery with fruits and seeds not only nourish those flying flower feeders, but they are also a prime source of food for chipmunks, squirrels, bunnies, and other woodland critters. Plants that encourage the survival of pollinating insects ensure a healthy ecosystem and environment.
5. Natural Eats. Keeping bugs away from nature’s vegetative goodies is a true challenge. Trees, shrubs, vegetables, and flowers attract a variety of pests that will chew up leaves and stems. Some of Florida’s edible plants – like cabbage palm, muscadine grape, Chickasaw plum, and persimmon – are good for both animals and people.
If you want to attract more wildlife to your yard, plant oak trees for acorns, sweetgum for seeds, wax myrtle, beautyberry, and holly for berries, and longleaf pine trees for cones. Mulberry trees and their sweet juicy berries are irresistible to birds, but the undigested seeds get dropped just about anywhere, and you’ll have mulberry trees growing where you don’t want them (even inside other trees!).
6. Shelter. Strong trees in Florida’s unique landscape provide shelter for nesting birds and beneficial insects. Because native plants are more apt to expand their nutrient-hungry roots into the soil of your lawn, tree trunks will grow thick and tall. With Florida’s propensity for stormy weather, strong and study trees are a must for your property.
7. Dollars and “Sense.” Practicality and economizing are never to be overlooked. Whether in large containers or directly into the ground, placing native trees, shrubs, and flowers on and around the property means you’re using less sweat equity for the upkeep of the lawn.
The cost of fertilizer and insecticides is minimal, but one thing to note: soil acidity in Florida’s home landscapes is different from what you’ll find in most regenerating forests. Although native plants don’t need much fertilizer, adding chemical or organic supplements helps them grow better. Still, simple native trees and bushes are less expensive to maintain than far-away exotics or plants from other climates.
Choosing the best native plants for your yard and garden is as easy as visiting your favorite nursery or home improvement store. If you’re not sure what to plant, take a walk through one of Florida’s state forests for inspiration.
Teri Silver is a journalist and outdoor enthusiast. She and her husband live on 5 acres with a vast lawn, three gardens, a farm, a pond, many trees, and a lot of yard work! The best parts of the year are summer and fall when home-grown veggies are on the dinner table.