Planting well-chosen native plants creates wildlife habitat and beautiful landscapes. Native species are adapted to our climate, so they require less water and chemicals. This relieves pressure on our water supply and keeps pesticides and fertilizers from polluting local creeks and streams.

You can create wildlife habitat by providing shelter, food, water, and other resources that birds, insects, mammals, and other species depend on to survive. Some simple ways to attract wildlife to your yard include layering vegetation, having plants that bloom at different times of the year, and creating nesting spaces.

Healthy soil is alive and essential to growing food and creating living landscapes. Consider using practices that keep your soil healthy, such as adding compost, minimizing disturbance, and keeping the soil covered.

When rain washes over our roofs, driveways, and sidewalks, it picks up a variety of pollutants. This polluted rainwater drains into creeks and streams, impacting water quality and making these waterways unhealthy for people, fish, and wildlife. You can help address this problem by creating spaces that allow water to absorb into your landscape, like rain gardens, permeable walkways, or rain harvest systems.

Even though we think of the Pacific Northwest as a place of abundant rainfall, watering our yards can deplete water systems and drain your pocketbook. If you do need to install irrigation, make sure every drop of water stays within your yard and doesn’t run off onto the street or sidewalk.

Maintaining a lawn requires a lot of time, effort, chemicals, and water – and it can get expensive! Most lawns consist of only one or two species of grasses, which creates a barren landscape for wildlife and contributes to the loss of biodiversityThe variety of species present.. By replacing lawn spaces with a pollinator garden or “meadowscape,” you can attract a variety of important pollinators.

Invasive plants harm our natural ecosystems by pushing out native plants, along with the beneficial insects and wildlife that rely on them. There are many effective ways to remove weeds from your yard.

Using pesticides to control unwanted bugs and weeds is dangerous to wildlife, pets, humans, and our waterways. Decreasing their use improves wildlife habitat and water quality. Visit Grow Smart, Grow Safe to find less-toxic products and weed/pest control methods.