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HomeMy WebLinkAboutITEM VI Native brochure editedWhy Native plants are beautiful and protect nature Native plants are species that grew naturally in a region before European settlement. Since native plants are adapted to their surroundings, they are more tolerant of drought and poor soil and more resistant to native insects and diseases than non- natives. Species native to Wisconsin include many attractive flowers, grasses, sedges, bushes and trees. In addition to providing food and habitat for pollinators, birds, and other wildlife, native plants filter water pollutants and store carbon. Weeds Some native plants, like milkweed have “weed”in their name, but this does not mean they are weeds. Weeds are any plants that are unwanted in their current location. So a native plant could be considered a weed, but so can a rose bush! Invasives Invasive plants present a big and growing problem in Wisconsin. They are so aggressive that they choke out more desirable plants. When developing a yard or landscape it is important to remove invasives and take care not to introduce any new ones. How Two ways to incorporate native plants into your yard 1 Create a boundary of some sort, like a stone edge, and plant natives within that boundary. In this scenario, separate city codes dictate what is allowed within the boundary and what is allowed outside the boundary. 2 Have your yard designated as a “native landscaping area.” Native landscaping areas are also known as maintained prairies or meadows. What are these point values? Plant Native in OSHKOSH! City Codes Landscaping Requirements Figure 30-254a of Commonly-Used Appropriate Landscaping Species in Municipal Code Section 30-254 Classification of Plant Species includes plants native to Wisconsin that receive an additional 10% added to point values for landscaping requirements. (Note, there are some plants native to Wisconsin on this list that are not marked as native.) Native Landscaping Areas Section 17-44.2 of the Municipal Code Native Landscaping Areas describes the process for receiving approval of a native landscaping area within the City of Oshkosh. Contact information here Exemptions To Weed Cutting Requirements Section 17-44D of the Municipal Code lists several exemptions to weed cutting and lawn care requirements. Among the exemptions are vegetation on steep slopes that would be unsafe to mow, vegetation in natural wooded lots, vegetation near water, and approved Native Landscaping Areas. frontbackopen front Native Plant Resources City of Oshkosh Sustainability Plan Ch. 4 “Environmental Conservation” has a section on native planting. Information on where you can find this goes here Rain Gardens & Storm Water Credits Stormwater credits for installation of a rain garden are available. Municipal Code Section 30-255 describes Standards for Rain Gardens and Bioswales. Contact information here Apps to Help Identify Plant Species Pl@ntNet Seek PictureThis Books Available at the Oshkosh Public Library By Lynn M Steinter Landscaping with Native Plants of Wisconsin By Douglas W Tallamy Nature’s Best Hope The Nature of Oaks Bringing Nature Home: How Native Plants Sustain Wildlife In Our Gardens Native Plant Nurseries Many native plants are listed as endangered or threatened by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. It is important to use native plants that are propagated and not gathered. Gathering native plants disrupts native plant communities. In addition, like all plants some natives are more aggressive than others. Reputable nurseries will answer your questions about the source and characterisitcs of their plants. Nurseries will help you identify plants that will be successful for a particular purpose and specific conditions found in a yard or garden. Websites DNR • dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/endangeredresources Guidance from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources on native plants. Wild Ones • foxvalleyarea.wildones.org As described on its website, Wild Ones “promotes environmentally sound landscaping practices to increase biodiversity through the preservation, restoration and establishment of native plant communities.” The Fox Valley chapter provides many educational opportunities and hosts an annual native plant sale. USDA | Plants Database • plants.usda.gov Information on plants including whether a plant is a native or introduced species to regions within the United States Xerces Society | Pollinator Conservation Resource Center: Great Lakes Region xerces.org/pollinator-resource-center/great-lakes Includes lists of native plants and information on creation of pollinator habitat. Audubon • audubon.org/native-plants Includes a native plant database to bring more birds to a yard or garden. USDA | Weeds of Wisconsin plantsorig.sc.egov.usda.gov/java/invasiveOne?pubID=WI&sort=symbol Covers Wisconsin’s invasive, introduced, and noxious weeds as well as endangered and threatened species. Includes an explanation of Wisconsin law. Healthy Lakes & Rivers • healthylakeswi.com Provides information on creating wildlife habitats on shoreland property.