Dawn Dubats, Rice Creek Watershed District, 763-398-3078

Native plants can improve water quality and help with drainage problems by reducing the “squishy” spots in your lawn. So why isn’t everyone planting natives? Part of the problem has been that native plants are harder to find in retail stores.

The Rice Creek Watershed District developed a program called “One-Stop Shopping to Restore Your Yard & Shore” to make it easy for watershed residents to find these beneficial native plants. A web site has been developed and displays were posted at area garden retailers to help people learn the how to’s of rain gardens and lakeshore restoration. While all of the participating retailers are in the Twin Cities area, anyone can use the web site, which includes a plant selector tool. You simply enter your parameters into the site — for example, a flowering plant for a shady wet spot — and it will provide you with a list of native plants. The garden centers that provide space and support for the One-Stop displays are: Landscape Alternatives in Roseville, Lebens Floral at Old Town Market in Hugo, Linder’s Garden Center in St. Paul, and Rice Creek Gardens in Blaine.

Why are native plants so effective in improving water quality? The answer is largely due to their extensive roots, which sometimes extend 16 feet down. These roots anchor soil, decreasing erosion and suspended sediment that can make lakes and streams cloudy. If the plants are planted as a “buffer” between a yard and the lake, the roots act as a filter and absorb polluted run-off and excess nutrients before they enter the lake. When planted in the lake, native plants produce oxygen and provide habitat for fish and wildlife.

Posted in Care of Shoreland Property |