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How You Can Sustain Wildlife With Native Plants: Updated and Expanded

Mario Vargas Llosa

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Published in Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife With Native Plants Updated And Expanded

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Native plants are essential for sustaining wildlife. They provide food, shelter, and nesting sites for a variety of animals. By planting native plants in your yard or garden, you can help to support wildlife populations and create a more sustainable ecosystem.

Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants, Updated and Expanded

by Douglas W. Tallamy

4.8 out of 5

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Benefits of Native Plants for Wildlife

Food: Native plants produce fruits, seeds, and nectar that are eaten by a variety of animals, including birds, mammals, and insects.
Shelter: Native plants provide shelter from the sun, rain, and wind. They can also provide hiding places for animals from predators.
Nesting sites: Native plants provide nesting sites for birds, mammals, and insects. The dense foliage and sturdy branches of native plants can provide a safe place for animals to raise their young.

How to Choose Native Plants for Your Yard or Garden

When choosing native plants for your yard or garden, it is important to consider the following factors:

Climate: Choose plants that are native to your climate zone. This will ensure that the plants will be able to survive and thrive in your area.
Soil conditions: Choose plants that are adapted to the soil conditions in your yard or garden. This will help to ensure that the plants will be able to get the nutrients they need to grow and thrive.
Water requirements: Choose plants that have similar water requirements to the other plants in your yard or garden. This will help to ensure that all of the plants will be able to get the water they need to survive and thrive.
Wildlife needs: Consider the wildlife that you want to attract to your yard or garden. Choose plants that provide food, shelter, and nesting sites for the animals that you want to attract.

Where to Find Native Plants

There are a number of places where you can find native plants for your yard or garden. You can purchase native plants from local nurseries, garden centers, or online retailers. You can also find native plants at local parks, nature preserves, and botanical gardens.

How to Plant and Care for Native Plants

Once you have chosen the native plants for your yard or garden, it is important to plant and care for them properly. Here are a few tips:

Planting: Dig a hole that is twice as wide as the root ball of the plant. Place the plant in the hole and backfill with soil. Tamp down the soil around the plant to remove any air pockets. Water the plant thoroughly.
Care: Water the plant regularly, especially during the first year after planting. Fertilize the plant according to the manufacturer's instructions. Mulch around the plant to help retain moisture and suppress weeds.

By planting native plants in your yard or garden, you can help to support wildlife populations and create a more sustainable ecosystem. Native plants provide food, shelter, and nesting sites for a variety of animals. They are also a beautiful and natural way to add beauty to your yard or garden.

Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants, Updated and Expanded

by Douglas W. Tallamy

4.8 out of 5