I’ve talked about the native/invasive plant debate before, and by this time you know that I am a passionate advocate of the use of native plants in our landscapes because our wildlife is dependent on them for their very existance.
Alison Kerr, of Loving Nature’s Garden, has written a very good summary of this debate and a discussion of how she chooses the plants in her garden. She makes two very good points:
- We are each responsible for the impact that invasive plants have beyond the borders of our own gardens
- The gardening system is broken. Nurseries continue to sell these destructive plants under the misguided idea that if they don’t someone else will. And gardeners continue to purchase these plants because they are familiar and the gardening “gurus” continue to recommend them
It’s time for us all to wake up and take responsibility for our actions, which can have extremely detrimental impacts. It’s time for nurseries and the big box stores (Home Depot, Lowes, and Walmart) to become responsible sellers by discontinuing the sale of these invasive plants.
We are paying (as taxpayers) billions of dollars each year to control invasive plants. Just think on what better uses this money could be spent: protection of fragile ecosystems, protection of endangered species, not to say feeding our own people.
Native plants form the basis of the food web. Without natives, we would have no wildlife.
While we’re on the subject of personal responsibility, did you know you can opt out of receiving the phone book? Doing so would save millions of trees, protect the forest and preserve habitat for many birds.
© 2009 – 2010, Carole Brown. All rights reserved.
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Carole,
My computer finally lets me view Conservation Gardening! Now I can’t get off the computer because I have to catch up. I am working on planting more natives in my garden and I know your site will help me choose the good ones. AND I’ve already opted out of getting the phone book,
Thanks for all your hard work.
Shelley
Carole,
I always thought it isn’t natives vs. invasives, but natives vs. exotics. Of course invasives shouldn’t be planted, but planting even non-invasive exotics can often not provide what is needed for food, habitat, etc. Am I on the right track?
Yes, Shelley, you’re on the right track. Before I convince people to go native as a general rule, we have to stop the spread of invasives, so that’s why I focus on that. Exotics do not provide the food that animals need, but invasives cause a LOT of other problems, too.
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