Minimal Soil Ammending
Minimal Soil Ammending
Minimal Soil Ammending
Native PNW plants are better suited for our local soils, which tend to be fairly acidic anywhere but valley floors. If you plant certain traditional landscaping species, you may have to add soil amendments to raise pH, as well as fertilize regularly until soil pH is at the optimal level.
Plants can't remove certain key nutrients from the soil until pH is at it's preferred level. If you have plants in your soil that don't like the acidity, you'll need to fertilize regularly to ensure they have adequate nutrients to successfully complete their annual cycles.
Native plants like the soil just the way it is, and often they'll perform well when it is left alone. Many of the species we offer do well in poor soils, and often are the first to appear after forest fires.
Reduced Water Needs
Minimal Soil Ammending
Minimal Soil Ammending
Western Oregon and Washington get an incredible amount of rainfall each year, however the summer months are still relatively dry for most of us. These periods of dry weather can be detrimental to landscaping plants imported from areas that don't match our seasonal climate here in the PNW unless they are irrigated regularly each year.
By planting natives instead, especially in areas where you don't have the ability to water, you have a much better chance of keeping the areas around your home green and productive year round. Many native plants are "drought tolerant" and will survive the 3-ish months that we typically don't see much rain. A handful of deep drinks through the dry months are more than enough to keep a native garden thriving.
Increased Snack Possibilities
One of the best things about many native PNW plants is they have a built-in seed dispersal mechanism called RDF - Really Delicious Fruit. (this isn't a real term, please don't try to Google it). Wildlife consumes the fruit, then "deposits" the seeds (which are not typically digestible) elsewhere in a ball of "fertilizer."
PNW native plants like Serviceberry, Oregon Crabapple, Evergreen Huckleberry, and Thimbleberry are among the many edible native plants that thrive in our soils. Plant something that looks great in the spring and tastes great in the summer.
Supporting links and information
OSU Native PDF
Native Plant Society
Native Plants PNW
OSU published a PDF of their recommendations while considering gardening west of the Cascade Mountains. This comprehensive guide is mainly focused on the Willamette Valley, with a complete list of the best flowers, shrubs, and trees that compliment any garden or landscape.
Native Plants PNW
Native Plant Society
Native Plants PNW
This website is chalk full of information about every type of Native plant the PNW has to offer, including natural distribution, growth habits, planting tips, and much more. The information gathered together here is from WSU and OSU and other choice educational databases, so you can rest easy knowing you're getting great advice.
Native Plant Society
Native Plant Society
Native Plant Society
The Native Plant Society of Oregon was founded in 1961 to promote the independent research and conservation of Oregon's native plant life. Through the years they've gained quite the knowledge about the different growing regions here in Oregon. There are 13 different chapters, so be sure to check out your local chapter for advice on growing natives in your area!
High Desert Natives
Native Plant Society
Native Plant Society
For those of you gardening in the Great Basin (Bend, K-Falls, Madras), NPSO's High Desert chapter is focused on your specific region and has a ton of great resources for you to get started with native plants in your growing region.