Plant native vegetation in your garden

(For the 12th of February)

Dallol Volcano, Ethiopia
Photograph by Philippe Bourseiller

If you plant greenery that only thrives in a specific climate, you could expend huge amounts of water, fertilizers and other growing aids just trying to keep it alive. Indigenous plants are already accustomed to the demands of their environment and they often require much effort to keep healthy - that means less wasted water, less fertilizer and less need for pest control. Planting native species also encourages natural biodiversity and lessens the risks associated with introducing non-native plants that could spread and change natural habitats, thereby affecting local wildlife.

As our climate changes to become drier in summer, choose native, drought-resistant species such as beautiful grasses or succulent plants that do not require watering.

-from the book '365 Ways to Save the Earth', by Philippe Bourseiller