Why native landscaping?

Incorporating native plants in your lawn is a great way to provide crucial habitat for pollinators, cut down on water usage and costs, and promote the health of our community.  Since they are perennial and thrive naturally once established in Northern Illinois, you’ll use less water and money on yard maintenance throughout the summer! You also do not need to use fertilizer, as leaf litter fallen from trees naturally provides nutrients to native plants. Inorganic pesticides are unnecessary: these plants benefit from insects.

Native prairie plants survive with extensive root systems which add organic matter to soils. Native wetland plants are adapted to frequent flooding: they improve water drainage and filtration of their surrounding environment. This means planting natives result in less water and less polluted water running off into streams and waterways during major rain events. Gardens that seek to maximize drainage using native plants and smart landscaping are called rain gardens. Learn more and find resources for planning rain gardens on the Chicago Botanical Garden’s website.

Native plant suggestions

Given the hardiness and adaptability of native plants to our area, there’s always a native plant suited to your outdoor space! To encourage a sustainable Northbrook, the Village provides the following pamphlet to help you choose the right native plant based on specific site conditions.