Landscaping for wildlife

“Since 1980, the US has converted more than 10 million acres of forest to suburb – an area twice as large as Yellowstone, Everglades, Shenandoah, and Yosemite National Parks combined. This type of changing land use and habitat alteration is particularly harmful to migratory birds.” (1)

In recent years, songbird populations have fallen by 5-10% annually, with some local species shrinking by more than half! Their habitats are being lost to expanding urban and suburban development as the Portland metro region grows. By adding native plants to your yard, you’ll be countering these deleterious effects of deforestation, creating ideal environments that encourage nesting birds and other animals to visit. (2)

Planting native species can also eliminate unsightly and annoying invasives, such as Himalayan blackberry and English ivy, from your property. Flowering shrubs like elderberry and spirea attract butterflies and other beneficial insects to your garden, which can reduce your dependency on pesticides. And, as an added benefit, native plants typically require less maintenance than exotic ornamentals. That means less work for you!



(1) http://www.audubon.org/campaign/population_habitat/critter.html
(2) www.plantnative.com