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Get Ready to Greenscape
Sometimes when you're driving down the road all of the yards on a street look the same.  This cookie cutter landscape happens in part because retailers sell the same plants across many markets to maximize on volume. Landscape designers and contractors also tend to use the same plants regardless of location to keep their designs simple and interchangeable.  Unfortunately, these copy cat yards are not only boring, but they also have a high cost to consumers and the planet.

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the cost of maintaining an average yard is $700 per year. Add trees, shrubs and flower beds and the cost can increase.  Then add maintenance costs and watch the numbers skyrocket.  

What can you do to help cut these costs?  The first step is to come up with a landscape plan that is made up of native trees and plants.  The benefits of a native landscape go way beyond economic savings.   A yard full of native plants requires less water and fertilizers.  It also helps to support the local ecosystem.

What Makes It Green?
Our song bird populations have dropped by 5 - 10% a year for the last 20 - 30 years.  The decrease is due primarily to loss of habitat.   Native shrubs and trees provide the foliage, nectar, pollen, berries, seeds and nuts that many species of wildlife require to survive and thrive.  They also help us as humans live in a healthier world.  They absorb CO2, provide shade and thrive without much human intervention.  
Since native plants evolved to grow under local conditions, they do not require that the soil be changed. They usually require little maintenance and don't need the amount of watering or fertilizing that non-native plants require.  
Decreasing the amount of water needed to keep your landscape thriving does more than just save you money.  It also saves 2 important resources - the water itself and energy.  The water we use is pumped, purified, pushed and processed before it gets to us.  All of these processes require a lot of energy.  That energy requires fossil fuels and creates CO2, along with other pollutants.

U.S. households consume about 127,500 gallons of water a year and have an average yearly water bill of around $200.

The Gardener's Confidence Collection has absolutely amazing plants that are grown specifically for the southeast.  They even have a self-pollinating blueberry plant - boy do they taste great!  Find out more about them at www.gardenersconfidence.com.