Natural yards add beauty and habitat

Take a stroll or a bike ride around town and you’re likely to notice more and more homeowners opting for the beauty and simplicity of native landscapes.

The benefits of native landscapes

Natural landscapes can be low maintenance and very easy to maintain, but they offer a number of other environmental benefits, too. First and foremost, they require little or no, fertilizers and chemicals. Native plants have extensive root structures that conserve water and prevent erosion and run-off from our yards. And vitally important, native plants provide food and shelter for the insects, pollinators, birds, and small mammals that share the earth with us. 

How to get started with your own natural yard

It’s important to know that you don’t need to transform your entire yard all at once. You can start small by converting just a small patch into native plantings. And then, as you learn and your garden grows, you can convert a little more of your yard each year. 

The city of Madison and the DNR offer online guides that can help you choose the right native plantings for your yard, along with links to plenty of other helpful resources. Both of these guides are excellent resources for learning more and getting started.