NATIVE PLANTS

In the U.S., approximately 20 million acres of lawn are cultivated, covering more land than any single crop. Gas powered garden tools emit 5% of the nation's air pollution. Forty million lawnmowers consume 200 million gallons of gasoline per year. According to the U.S. National Wildlife Federation:                     

•           30% of water consumed on the East Coast goes to watering lawns; 60% on the West Coast.

•           18% of municipal solid waste is composed of yard waste.

•           The average suburban lawn received 10 times as much chemical pesticide per acre as farmland.

•           Over 70 million tons of fertilizers are applied to residential lawns and gardens annually.

•           Per hour of operation, a power lawn mower emits 10-12 times as much hydrocarbon as a typical auto. A weedeater emits 21 times more and a leaf blower 34 times more.

•           Where pesticides are used, 60-90% of earthworms are killed. Earthworms are important for improving soil.

One thing people can do to change this is to replace all or parts of turfgrass lawns with native groundcover, such as clover and buffalo grass or edible plants.

   

NATIVE PLANTS

Native plants provide a beautiful, hardy, drought resistant, low maintenance landscape while benefiting the environment. Native plants, once established, save time and money by eliminating or significantly reducing the need for fertilizers, pesticides, water and lawn maintenance equipment. The deep root systems of many native Midwestern plants increase the soil's capacity to store water. Native plants can significantly reduce water runoff and, consequently, flooding. Native plants provide shelter and food for wildlife. Native plants attract a variety of birds, butterflies, and other wildlife by providing diverse habitats and food sources. Native plants promote biodiversity and stewardship of our natural heritage.

Source: http://www.epa.gov/greenacres/nativeplants/factsht.html#Replacing%20Your%20Lawn

Environmental Protection Agency

CLOVER

Clover grows quickly and easily, chokes out weeds; the deep root system reduces soil compaction. Clover is also a nitrogen-fixing plant, which enriches the soil with natural fertilizer. Clover needs little to no watering or mowing. Chemical fertilizers are not needed to grow clover. Clover stays green even in the driest part of summer.  Clover is inexpensive, it costs about $4 to cover 4000 sq. ft. of turf area. Clover is easy to walk through or play on, although not as durable as grass. Commonly available clovers are Dutch White, Yellow Blossom and Red Clover. Of these, Dutch White is best suited for lawn-type use. Dutch White clover is a perennial and drought tolerant. It is relatively low-growing, at about 4 - 8" high.

Source: http://eartheasy.com/grow_lawn_alternatives.htm#b    eartheasy

BUFFALO GRASS

Native to the Midwest, rugged buffalo grass (Buchloe dactyloides) is a low-growing "warm-season" grass, which means it will be green in the summer and tawny beige in winter and early spring.

You won't need to water your buffalo grass except in times of severe drought. A buffalo grass turf takes little or no fertilizer. Buffalo grass is insect and disease-resistant. Best of all, most buffalo grass grows slowly and reaches a maximum height of four to six inches. It can be left unmowed or mowed infrequently.

Source: http://www.grownative.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=about.articleDetail&articleID=5   Grow native

                        23 EDIBLE PERENNIALS

Asparagus	Asparagus officinalis
Blackberry	Rubus ulmifolius
Blueberry, Highbush	Vaccinium corymbosum
Blueberry, Lowbush	Vaccinium angustifolium
Chives	Allium schoenoprasum
Chokeberry, Black	Aronia melanocarpa
Cranberry	Vaccinium macrocarpon
Currant, Clove Black.	Ribes odoratum
Currant, European Black	Ribes nigrum
Elderberry, American	Sambucus canadensis
Gooseberry	Ribes uva-crispa
Lemon Balm	Melissa officinalis
Mint; Spearmint	Mentha spicata
Oregano; Wild Marjoram	Origanum vulgare
Raspberry	Rubus idaeus
Rhubarb	Rheum rhaponticum
Rose Hips	Rosa rugosa
Rosemary	Rosmarinus officinale
Sage	Salvia officinalis
Savory, Winter	Satureja montana
Strawberry	Fragaria X Ananassa
Tarragon, French	Artemisia dracunculus
Thyme, Lemon	Thymus vulgaris

Source: http://www.efn.org/~bsharvy/edible.html   Eugene Free Network

Publications

Landscaping with Plants Native to Indiana http://www.inpaws.org/landscaping.html

Indiana Native Plant and Wildflower Society  http://www.inpaws.org/booksrobday.html

Databases

Ohio State University Plantfacts  http://hcs.osu.edu/plantfacts/web/

Integrated Taxonomic Information System (USDA) http://www.itis.usda.gov/index.html

Natural Resources Conservation Service http://plants.usda.gov/gallery.html

           

Government agencies

Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service http://www.csrees.usda.gov/

Plant Conservation Alliance http://www.nps.gov/plants/

           

Native plant advocates

Indiana Native Plant and Wildflower Society http://www.inpaws.org/

Chicago Wilderness  http://www.chicagowilderness.org/wildchi/landscape/index.cfm

Smaller American Lawns Today http://arboretum.conncoll.edu/salt/salt.html

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