If you are looking for an inexpensive, low maintenance way to landscape your yard or garden, consider adding native plants for hardy, disease resistant beauty that requires little or no care.  Plants that are native to your area have developed the ability to thrive in your local conditions, which means you can enjoy their beauty without having to supplement a lot of fertilizer or water them regularly.  This can save you money and time while giving you a beautifully landscaped area.

Native plants, such as wildflowers and shrubs, can usually be foraged, but check your local regulations to be sure it is allowed, and be sure to get permission from the landowner before foraging.  If you are not able to forage for native plants, check with your local extension office to find out about plant sales.  Our Conservation District sells trees and shrubs each year for very little cost.

Native plants that are domesticated tend to be very healthy and vigorous with only a little care.  We have a wildflower bed with lupine, yarrow and other native plants.  They grow so well that I have to fight to keep them from spreading to the lawn, and the only care they get is watering when I water the lawn.

In areas where water is rationed in the summer, native plants are the way to go.  They will survive, even if you do not water them, and will continue to flourish when imported plants are falling by the wayside.

If you want a beautiful yard without spending a lot of time or money to maintain it, native plants are a great solution.