As you start this year's yard work and lawn care and are dreading the thought of mowing grass and applying fertilizer and weed killer, take a step back and think of the native possibilities.

There are countless ways to incorporate native vegetation into your home landscape. Start one plant at a time--or create a whole new flower bed.

Why native plants?

Native prairie and woodland plants evolved in this climate and can handle the cold deep freeze, the spring rains and the hot drought conditions that we experience here in northern Illinois. Once they are established, generally after the first growing season, they rarely need to be watered and they do not require any fertilizer.  Having native flower beds requires less maintenance than large lawn areas because they do not require weekly mowing or extra watering. 

Incorporating Native Plants Into Your Yard
You can incorporate native plants into existing flower beds; just be sure to check the growing requirements and make sure they will get enough sun, shade or moisture as with any perennial plant.   Native flower beds, however, do need to be weeded occasionally. Mulching with wood chips, generally available through your community for free, will help keep unwanted weed growth down. It is best to cut back certain plants to keep them from getting too large or taking over. They can either be mowed down or cut by hand after they have died back, although leaving some stalks and tall grasses adds a nice dimension to the winter landscape and provides seeds for birds. If you do not want your prairie flowers to spread to other parts of the yard, you can cut off the seed heads or pods and dispose of them before they ripen.

Take Better Care of Your Lawn

So what about the grass that is left? Consider using organic fertilizers and organic weed inhibitors. They are safer for your children, pets and the environment. They generally cost a little more per bag, but need to be applied only once or twice a year. This is cheaper than having the local lawn chemical company come out and apply unnecessary fertilizer five times a year. Whether you choose organic or traditional chemical fertilizer, be sure to follow the directions on the bag and keep it off sidewalks, driveways and streets where it can wash down the storm sewers and into local ponds and streams.

For more information about Native Landscaping, call Jennifer Hammer at 630-428-4500, Ext. 14 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .