It should be no surprise that the landscaping around your Colorado Springs home has a significant impact on the local ecosystem. The plants you incorporate into your yard can determine the types of animals that will visit, the amount of shade and sunlight available for other organisms, and even the soil composition.
Here are just a few reasons why you should consider using them in your landscaping project:
Adaptation – Native plants are adapted to the local climate, requiring less water, fertilizer, and pesticides to thrive. This high level of adaptability is suitable for both your wallet and the environment!
Supports Wildlife – Incorporating native plants into your landscaping can provide much-needed habitat for local wildlife. Native plants support the food chain by providing shelter, food sources, and nesting sites for essential insects, birds, and animals.
Preserves Species – By choosing native plants, you can help preserve our planet’s genetic diversity. Depleting genetic diversity is one of the leading causes of plant extinction, so by implementing native species into your landscaping, you’re doing your part to safeguard these species!
Beauty – Native plants are simply beautiful! You never have to sacrifice aesthetics for the sake of sustainability – there are plenty of gorgeous native plants that will make your yard look incredible.
Luckily, there’s no shortage of beautiful native plants, trees, shrubs, and grasses from which to choose in Colorado Springs, Colorado! So let’s explore some popular options.
Colorado Blue Spruce – The Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens) is a stately evergreen tree that can reach up to 60 feet tall. It has a dense, pyramidal shape featuring bright blue-green needles. This tree is adaptable to many soil types and prefers full sun.
Big Bluestem – Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) is a tall, perennial grass that can reach a height up to 8 feet. The Big Bluestem helps hold soil in place with a deep root system, making it an excellent choice for erosion control. The leaves are a beautiful blue-green color, turning reddish-bronze in the fall. Big bluestem prefers full sun and dry soil.
Blanketflower – Blanketflower (Gaillardia pinnatifada) is a beautiful, drought-tolerant wildflower that blooms from June to September. It has bright yellow petals with red and orange centers and grows about 18 inches tall. Blanketflower prefers full sun and dry, sandy soil.
Do Your Part To Keep Colorado Sustainable
As a homeowner in Colorado Springs, you have the opportunity to help make Colorado a more sustainable state by choosing native plants for your landscaping projects. Not only will you be doing your part to preserve genetic diversity and support local wildlife, but you’re adding value to the environment by using plants that are already suited to the Colorado climate.
So next time you’re planning a landscaping project, be sure to keep native plants in mind! They are beautiful, beneficial, and play an important role in keeping Colorado sustainable for the generations yet to come.
Are you thinking about buying or selling your home in Colorado Springs? If so, please reach out to start the conversation about your real estate needs today.
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