Bringing Nature Home by Douglas W. Tallamy

Bringing Nature Home by Douglas W. Tallamy

​The book Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants by Douglas W. Tallamy is a great introduction to why native plants matter and what you can do to help increase native biodiversity. Below I discuss some of the take-aways from his book.

Why Should We Care about Native Plants?

​Plants are a key food for many animal and insect species. You may think that the type of plant does not matter but it is becoming increasingly clear that many bees, butterflies, and other insects can feed only on certain plants (see my post on the endangered Karner Blue Butterfly), generally, the plants they evolved with, which are the native plants in that region. These types of insects are called specialists. Furthermore, many birds depend on the seeds of native plants as a food source and insects are also a key food for birds. You cannot discuss planting natives without bringing up invasive and non-native plants. Many invasive plants, trees, and shrubs were initially planted as ornamental plants, but occasionally they grow aggressively and outcompete native plants. Therefore, removing invasive species often goes along with planting native ones. You do not need to remove every non-native species in your garden (although feel free to if you want), many non-natives do not spread aggressively or harm the environment.

Native Plantings Look Messy

​Many native plant gardens are meant to mimic the natural environment and unfortunately, many people find these gardens messy and unkempt. However, you can landscape native plant gardens just like landscaped ornamentals. Mowing paths with sharp edges through your native garden can impact on how your garden is perceived. However, native gardens do best with dense plantings (less mulched areas) to provide cover for insects and other wildlife.

How to Plant More Natives?

​Many homeowners start by removing invasive or non-native species on their property and then replace them with similar native plants. I have used this technique on my property, although we have 75 acres covered in glossy buckthorn, so this will be a lifetime commitment. Another method recommended by Doug Tallamy is when a non-native plant dies, replace it with a native one. If you want to make a difference more quickly you can carve out a part of your lawn, kill the grass, and replace it with a native flower garden. Alternatively, you can leave your non-native plants (assuming they are not invasive) and add more native trees and shrubs to your lawn and landscaping, space permitting.

What Natives Should You Plant?

​What you should plant depends on many factors, such as sun, soil type, moisture, etc. Many native plant nurseries have filters that allow you to focus on plants native to your area that fit your specific requirements. The other option is to focus on keystone species. Doug Tallamy gives a list based on the current (incomplete) research of what native plants host the most herbivorous insects. The idea is that the more species that can live on that plant the more diversity you are supporting by planting that species and the more birds are also helped by providing food sources in the form of insects. His book focuses on plants native to the Eastern United States because that is where he lives, this information is much less complete for other areas. However, he concluded that oaks provide the most support for insects, as many as 534 species. Following oaks are willows, cherry/plum (Prunus), birch, poplar/cottonwood, crabapple, blueberry/cranberry (Vaccinium), box elder maple, elm, pine, hickory, hawthorn, alder, spruce, ash, basswood/linden, filbert/hazelnut, walnut/butternut, beech, and last chestnut, which supports 125 species.

What Else Can You Do?

​Light pollution is a real problem. Moths are drawn to lights at night and will not leave until the light turns off, causing them to die of exhaustion or being burned by lights. Due to light pollution, some moths, such as the royal walnut moth, can no longer be found in New England. Leaving unnecessary lights on at night may also affect fireflies which appear to be declining. Using motion-activated lights that shut off when motion is no longer detected is better than leaving lights shining all night. Bonus, you may also be able to see the stars!

Conclusion

If you wish to learn more there are other great books by Douglas W. Tallamy including Nature's Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation That Starts in Your Yard and The Nature of Oaks: The Rich Ecology of Our Most Essential Native Trees.