Most gardeners have a connection with the soil they use to cultivate their gardens. They invest their time, money, and emotions in every weed they pull and each plant they tenderly place into the soil.

There’s always a way to strengthen the connection between you and your garden, no matter how big or small it is. You can start by using native plants to create a stronger connection between yourself and your plot of land.

Why? Many popular bedding plants sold in garden centres are actually invasive throughout the United States. You may think that a plant sold in a retail store is safe to use where you live. Wholesalers can easily import plants from other countries and sell them in different countries because they are attractive and make a profit.

Check out some of the most common invasive plants in gardens across the U.S.

Chinese wisteria (Wisteria sinensis)

It was brought to the U.S. via Europe in the early nineteenth century. The plant was a hit with gardeners who were enchanted by the beautiful purple flowers. However, it quickly spread to other parts of the country, mainly in the east. Woody vines can grow rapidly and are known to uproot large trees or displace the foundations of houses. This plant is still available in most garden nurseries.

Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica)

This one is the fault of nineteenth-century plant collectors. It produces only small fluffy flowers in the fall for a couple of weeks and is incredibly invasive.

Common bamboo (Phyllostachys spp.)

This plant can grow as much as 12 inches per day. It is a nightmare. Once it is planted, it’s nearly impossible to remove. The roots of the plant can reach up to 20 feet away from the mother.

Bradford pear (Pyrus calleryana)

When I was a kid, I used to have a few growing in my yard. The fruit is hard and almost inedible. They have a bad smell in the spring when they bloom. Also, they are prone to falling over in strong winds. And, yes, they’re invasive. Most of them are in the Northeast.

Hedera helix (English ivy)

This vine will reach anything, including homes and forests. It climbs to get light and will decimate trees within months. It looks beautiful and gives off an English garden vibe.

Periwinkle (Vinca minor)

It is another vine that is often used as a groundcover. It grows rapidly and forms mats on the ground. It is a fast-growing vine that quickly displaces native plants of all types.

If you’re still not convinced to plant native plants, Cheryl Rafuse of Plant Magic in Massachusetts might be able to do the trick. She will appeal to that part of your mind that doesn’t want to deal with a fussy garden at the moment.

Rafuse of Apartment Therapy says that native plants have not only evolved to work with the wildlife in their area but also adapted to the local climate. This means that they require less maintenance, water, and attention as long as they are planted in the right conditions.

Native plants require less fertilizers and pesticides. Common “horticultural plants” need more of us than they do. Native plants require less water because they are adapted to local soil and climate conditions. Native plants are more resilient and have deeper roots, which can prevent erosion and runoff. This is especially important for the Midwest’s Prairie states.

It can be difficult to find native plants for your garden. In the last few decades, most nurseries only buy from large wholesalers who don’t have native plants as a speciality. These plants are propagated in large quantities and then grown elsewhere in the United States, mostly in the Southeast. Local nurseries are rare because big-box growers have cut them out.

They may be less expensive, but these common horticultural species can do more harm than good. Pesticides are used to kill local pollinators. Planting native plants can help these same pollinators tenfold.

Rafuse explains that native plants provide nectar to your favourite bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Even though you may have seen pollinators using non-native flowers, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they are getting the same nectar. You are helping the ecosystem by planting native plants.

You may want to change your garden plan or add native plants to your collection. What is the best place to start? Rafuse recommends taking the time to research and create a plan that will extend beyond this year.

Rafuse says that it’s not realistic for people to remove every non-native plant they’ve ever planted. The time, money and emotional attachments that people have to certain plants are all very valid reasons to keep them. Making a plan for your yard to shift to native plants gradually may seem difficult, but it is easier than you think.

Follow these steps when you are ready to start your native plant adventure.

Do your research and plan.

Talk to the local horticultural societies. You’ll get a list of things to look out for if you tell them what you want to achieve. They’ll also be able to tell you which nurseries to visit.

You can also visit a library or local used book shop, which has sections dedicated to native plants. You can also do your research online.

Remember that you can find native plants in big-box nurseries; you just need to know what to look for. If you don’t, you’ll have to go to local nurseries.

Learn the difference between nursery-grown and collected.

You’re looking for plants that have been propagated in a nursery. Some species are still collected from the wild to sell as nursery plants.