Vegetation that is native to an area naturally offers many advantages to help create sustainable, low maintenance habitats.
Native plants:
- require less maintenance and can survive for decades, once established.
- have deep and extensive root systems, which help to stabilize the soil column and create an environment favorable to building fertile soils rich in organic matter.
- are able to absorb excess nutrients from runoff, enhancing infiltration during periods of heavy rain as well as drought.
- attract butterflies, hummingbirds, songbirds, and beneficial insects.
In addition, native landscapes provide ecosystem services, such as:
- reducing soil erosion and air pollution
- improving water quality and conservation
- mitigating floods and managing stormwater
- increasing habitat and biodiversity.
- connecting nature, landscapes and culturally significant places
- providing aesthetic enhancements
- producing economic benefits
While today there is more interest than ever before in native landscape creation and restoration, the challenge remains to design, specify, install and maintain these landscapes so that they become established and flourish. The complex interaction among a site’s topography, soils, hydrology and vegetation—and future forces of change—can make achieving a resilient landscape difficult.
Cardno JFNew provides clients with full-service ecological solutions to their natural resource planning, restoration, and management problems. Known for our ability to help clients assess, restore, and maintain natural areas, including wetlands, streams, native prairies, woodlands, parks, and sensitive habitats, we also have deep experience in the design and implementation of solutions for low impact development, green infrastructure, natural stormwater treatment, water resource management and sustainable landscapes.