U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Description
**U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service**
**Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat and Conservation Landscaping: Chesapeake Bay Watershed**
**Introduction**
"Co
...
nservation landscaping," also known as "BayScaping" in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, focuses on reducing pollution and enhancing the local environment. This approach provides habitat for local and migratory animals, conserves native plants, and improves water quality. It reduces the time and expense of lawn and garden maintenance while offering more visual interest. This guide helps homeowners and organizations implement conservation landscaping with native plants suited to various local conditions.
**Benefits of Conservation Landscaping**
- **Pollution Reduction**: Minimizes the need for fertilizers, pesticides, and gas-powered lawn equipment.
- **Cost-Effective**: Native plants require less water and maintenance.
- **Erosion Control**: Stabilizes soil and filters runoff, improving water quality.
- **Wildlife Support**: Provides food and shelter, enhancing biodiversity and ecosystem health.
**Choosing Native Plants**
Native plants naturally occur in a region and have adapted to local conditions. They require less water and fertilization, and are more resistant to pests and diseases. They also support local wildlife by providing essential habitat and food sources. This guide includes a wide range of native species suitable for landscaping projects in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, covering areas in New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia, Delaware, and West Virginia.
**Conservation Landscaping Elements**
- **Reduce Disturbance**: Minimize habitat destruction during development.
- **Reduce Lawn Areas**: Replace lawns with native plant beds to lower maintenance and environmental impact.
- **Start Small**: Implement landscape plans in phases to manage complexity.
- **Use Native Plants**: Enhance ecological benefits by integrating native species.
- **Avoid Invasive Species**: Prevent the spread of harmful non-native plants.
- **Improve Water Quality**: Plant native species along slopes, water bodies, and drainage areas.
- **Enhance Wildlife Habitat**: Design gardens to provide food, water, shelter, and breeding spaces.
**Wildlife Value**
The plants listed in this guide are valuable to wildlife, providing food through fruits, seeds, and nectar. Songbirds, waterfowl, hummingbirds, butterflies, beneficial insects, and small mammals benefit from these plants. Additionally, features like standing dead trees, fallen logs, rock piles, and brush piles offer shelter and breeding sites.
**How to Use This Guide**
Plants are categorized alphabetically by scientific name within each botanical category, such as ferns, grasses, herbaceous plants, shrubs, trees, and vines. Information includes plant characteristics, growth conditions, habitat suitability, and wildlife value. The guide helps users select plants that match their site conditions and landscape goals, emphasizing the im
Read more