Nativescape Questionaire
A question form to fill out to receive a professional recommendation for the Best Nativescape Seed Mix to use on your site. Check the one that best describes the specific location that you want to vegetate.
Nativescape Licenses and Certifications
- Certified State of Michigan Vendor – MDOT approved
- Licensed Michigan Nursery
- Wayne County Certificate of Awardability
- National Native Plant Producer
Why should you plant native species?
THE BENEFITS OF NATIVESCAPING
- Reduced maintenance costs, native species do not need fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, irrigation or regular mowing to be maintained.
- Climatological benefits are seen with the interception of infrared radiation, wind breaks, temperature moderation (providing shade in the summer) and reduced greenhouse effects with C0² absorption.
- Water pollution control and wastewater treatment, the microorganisms, bacteria and fungi that live in the plant’s root system mineralize large quantities of nitrates before reaching groundwater. The close knit plant community also forms a sediment trap or filter increasing water clarity.
- Bioremediation is done by the rhizosphere actually breaking down complex molecular structures in their elemental form. This has huge implications for cleaning brown fields or contaminated sites.
- Soil stabilization and reduced soil erosion is provided through the extensive root systems of many native plants with average depths of five to ten feet.
- Stormwater management and flood control, the deep root systems of native plants increase water infiltration rates, up to seven inches per hour. Upland prairie is the greatest groundwater recharge ecosystem there is and natives will breakdown pollutants in the water.
- Increased soil fertility is provided through extensive root systems of many native plants by root deposition or rot to depths of five to ten feet.
- Fugitive dust is reduced or eliminated with a vegetative cover and native plants provide the best ground cover since they are more adapted to a region.
- Enhance habitat and biodiversity, native plants will not compete with existing surrounding native habitats. Native plant communities provide habitat for wildlife that evolved there over tens of thousands of years.
- Sustainable, indigenous native plants that evolved to specific conditions are the most fit or have the highest adaptive value, thus producing the most viable seed and so ensuring long-term survival of their plant community.
- Educational benefits are seen with conservation education, scientific study, and outdoor classrooms providing many educational opportunities that can be created right on school grounds with our Landscapes for Learning plans.
- Medical benefits holistic and other medicines are derived from native plants and who know what has not been discovered yet. There could be a cure for cancer growing in your back-yard!
- Beautify visual aesthetics, with many forbs providing colorful flowers and native grasses turning colorful in the fall and through the winter.
- Reduced noise pollution, noise from lawn equipment can become a source of displeasure in many communities. Native plantings do not need regular mowing. Also tall natives planted on berms or greenwalls will provide noise abatement along highways or industrial areas.
- Recreational benefits are created with natural landscapes providing passive recreational opportunities like walking, hiking, bird watching and wildlife photography.
- Preserve Michigan’s natural heritage by using native Michigan genotype seed and plants. CL/14