May 2024

Native Plants and

By Brett Jamieson, American Lawn & Sprinkler

“Generally, native plants naturally occur within a radius of 100 miles of your area...”

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N ew Jersey encourages all people living in the state as well as businesses directly and indirectly to use native plants when landscaping property in the state. Native plants are a common term thrown around very often but to those without a green thumb, it can be confusing. According to Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey, “These plants, over time, have evolved to grow in a specific region. Native plants have established complex relationships with other native plants, insects, and animals, some of which are dependent on one another to thrive. Generally, native plants naturally occur within a radius of 100 miles of your area, and many can do well with a minimum of care once established.” Native plants, as stated above, come with the inbuilt advantage of being adapted to the local environment and weather conditions. While this does not mean they require no care to flourish, it does mean less need for maintenance and chemicals. Similarly, the native wildlife is adapted to live around these plants building on the ecosystem that has become New Jersey.

Many communities want to use native plants for a land scaping project, but don’t know where to start. A great place is obviously one of the many landscape companies that do work in the state of New Jersey. Beyond those pro fessional resources, the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station at Rutgers has a great list found on their website: https://njaes.rutgers.edu/fs1140/ on a page written by Deborah Pinto, Horticulture Consultant, Burlington County and Meredith Melendez, Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent, Mercer County. One popular thing to do with native plants is to set up rain gardens or pollinator gardens. Both use native plants for unique purposes. A rain garden is a great way to help absorb water in a very wet area or a location of storm water runoff. A pollinator garden uses plants that attract bees and other pollinator insects to a location to help with pollinating other plants. Both options require weeding and care to maintain. Another great resource for community associations interest ed in native plants is The Native Plant Society of New Jersey. CONTINUES ON PAGE 14

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MAY 2024