Naturescaping

 

Naturescaping is landscaping that allows people and nature to coexist. By incorporating native plants into your yard, you can attract insects, birds, and other creatures and help keep Portland's rivers and streams healthy.

We all live in a watershed and our everyday activities have an impact on Portland's rivers and streams. Contaminants from our yards--pesticides, fertilizers and loose soil--are washed into rivers and streams when it rains. Because naturescaped areas require less water and fewer (or no) chemical fertilizers and pesticides, naturescaping helps keep polluted stormwater from entering our waterways.

What’s In It For Me?

Naturescaping is easier than traditional landscaping. Getting exotic flowers, trees, and grasses to grow where they are not supposed to takes a lot of energy, chemicals, and plain hard work.

Native plants, on the other hand, do very well here without sprinklers or fertilizer. They are adapted to our summer droughts and are naturally attractive to wildlife. The savings in your water, chemical, and energy use can put money back in your pocket. And if that’s not enough, every little bit you do helps your watershed, your community, and the environment as a whole.

How Should I Get Started?

Click here to learn more or to enroll in a Naturescaping workshop. Workshops are held periodically throughout the Portland/Multnomah County Area.

Visit nearby wild areas. See what plants grow well in the shade and in the sun, in the wet and in the dry, what species look good together, and how plants arrange themselves without any help from us. Be sure to take a good plant guide along so you can identify species that you like without picking or digging samples. The  Native Plant Selection Guide for Portland can also give you ideas and information about how to get started with a Naturescaping project.