A cursory look at some of the things written at this site might have you believe that you shouldn’t remove non-native plants from your yard. But…don’t get me wrong…you may do as much or as little of that as you wish; it’s called ‘gardenin’. But remember, it’s not as though native animals aren’t using these naturalized plants. And, given the deer over populations along with the horrible growing conditions (spent and degraded soil, more droughts), it’s harder for native plants to thrive these days. These ‘bad’ plants will also be holding the soil in place and improving it at the same time. However, if you do want to try your hand at having more natives…there will be TLC involved such as watering and fencing. Non-natives don’t need such treatment in the age of the droughty, degraded, deer-filled environment. The main thing to do is to have many different kinds of plants of all different shapes and sizes.I know this shadbush looks healthy and all, but no plant should be an island. Nature isn’t like that, so neither should your landscape. A plant here and a plant there can make them sitting ducks for even the most normal swings in environmental conditions. Plants tend to protect each other by simply being there. As world famous painter, Bob Ross, might say, “Everybody needs a friend. Let’s give the plant a friend or two.” The more friends you give it the better. Nature is always there to let you know if you are doing something wrong. In this case, other kinds of plants are always trying to move in to the grass, creating a field which will ultimately want to become a forest, if the area is left alone. It takes a lot of your energy and money to thwart the ‘original intent’ for this land. Besides, wouldn’t you rather spend your time and earnings on other endeavors? Nature is constantly going after mono-cultures. That is why these enterprises have big pesticide budgets and weekly spray schedules. So, once again, in all you do in your yard, have a variety of plants, not masses of one type of plant.
