Experts: Consider native plants for green spaces

From page 1 require those host plants and can not use exotic host plants from other continents. Native plants have evolved locally through evolution and they do not need fertilizer because they’re adapted to our soil content, and they do not need supplemental irrigation once they are established. They can sustain the mowing practices that are common today and native plants also have a lower long-term maintenance cost,” Marinello said.

Say no to chemicals

The absence of chemical fertilizers being used on lawns, and subtracting gasoline leaf blower and lawn mowing emissions for those tending to landscaping, would assist in cleaning the air, water and soil. Native plants also protect the soil by preventing erosion. Marinello said compared with a standard two to three inches of turf grass having a meadow planting would be much less likely to cause erosion as plants and trees cause a cushion to slow down stormwater runoff. Native plants also preserve biodiversity and help restore a healthy ecosystem, and Marinello discussed with the EAB the ways in which native plantings are more educational and stimulating than plain grass lawns.

An example he presented to the EAB was the Northport Native Garden Initiative. “All across Long Island there are organizations popping up to incorporate native plants in public spaces as well as private yards and gardens. With native plants – when you plant it, they will come. When I finish with some clients’ gardens you literally see the butterflies coming in when the homeowner is looking out their window. You design the planting, plant the plants and help establish them in the first year with irrigation. After that insects and song birds come in, and it is about seasonal maintenance,” Marinello said.

Living in next door West Hempstead, Marinello has observed Garden City’s large pile ups of leaves that need to be collected and can be turned into mulch. He explained how Garden City homes have large front lawns, and reducing the size of some to include native gardens on the properties could result in beautiful gardens of native azaleas and blueberry trees, mountain laurel and sheep laurel, the issue of having excess leaf litter would be reduced. He wants the village to consider the leaves as a food source which recycles nutrients.

“A lot of insects are on those oak leaves during winter, so if as a village you can take those leaves to use as mulch you are negating the fact you have the great tree habitats – oak leaves are disposed to turn into compost or being mixed, those insects and pupae are now lost while they could have supplied food for songbirds. Also many species of butterflies hatch in the spring and consume that dead leaf,” he said.

Ireland told the EAB she begins plantings by taking at least one foot of lawn in her yard in front of her flower and plant beds. Each season she brings the garden out one more foot with the layering in of native plants.

“When you have an existing garden you make sure you do not have invasives, and you layer in natives. It does not have to be only natives to be a successful garden. You need to create a band, or strip, with some ease – and never plant in ones, plant in threes or five to make the area inviting to allure the pollinators. They will find it, and take it from there, but also make sure to have blooms throughout the season. Many native plants are great throughout summer and into fall as that’s when pollinators need them the most for nectar, as well as butterflies migrating,” she explained.

Ireland added that native plant spe- cies have longer tap roots and they purify water as it travels down in the ground, ultimately replenishing the aquifer. “Anything we can take away from having to be watered and creating a natural setup is going to help us dramatically,” she said.

EAB member Laurence Quinn commented that Long Island was frozen over with glacial ice thousands of years ago so there were no native species. Marinello spoke about the influx of Southeast U.S. native plant species that are found on Long Island. He shared that Kentucky Coffeetree can host only three species of caterpillars though the oak trees, a native plant for Long Island, can host over 519 species of caterpillars.

“That is because the Kentucky Coffeetree species does not have a relationship with insects found this far north. The species is here because humans brought it this far north. For others – Honey Locust and Black Locust trees are considered invasive here while they are Southeast U.S. native trees. Besides not having the relationship with the insects they are nitrogen fixers and our soil is naturally low in nitrogen. When those two species invade the Hempstead Plains ecosystem they add too much nitrogen to the soil and that benefits additional invasive species,” he said.

Invasive species

EAB member John Reilly asked which invasive species represents the biggest threat to the Long Island eco structure. Marinello said English Ivy is smothering the local ecosystems and has become a common sight on most Long Island roads. Burning bush is also not a native tree species but often found in the area. For addressing one major concern, he zeroed in on the Bradford Pear trees as they “outcompete” and displace native trees. He said states including Massachusetts, Ohio and Pennsylvania have banned them.

“That is a really nasty invasive species and unless it is pruned regularly, it can become a dangerous tree when the wind blows. The Town of Hempstead and Nassau County had planted many Bradford Pears in prior years but many of them are diseased at this point and wind up coming down,” he noted.

Quinn later said that he participated in the “No Mow May” in 2022 and during spring he discovered eight or nine plants growing that he never knew he had on the front lawn. “My lawn was no worse for only starting to mow it in June,” he said. Quinn and Marinello then noted the period of the year where no fertilizers are permitted to be used –between November 15 and April 1.

LINPI and Marinello are part of the Suffolk Alliance for Pollinators, which he explains is part of the “Island-wide movement to incorporate native plants in the public realm.”

Kelly Smith asked about the best goals for “first steps” the community can take towards encouraging native plantings. Marinello said engagement through educational and interactive programs, including outreach to local schools, are proving effective across Long Island. He suggested getting resident volunteers involved for designs and planting of native species.

“See who is interested and who is willing to learn if they aren’t already familiar with the native plants’ movement. You would be surprised how many people are already doing native plantings in their backyards and just don’t notice the choice for the front yard,” he said.

Ireland supported contacting schools and library audiences, adding that young children take an interest in native plants.

“We need to get this next generation recognizing that this is our wonderful environment that we need to help grow and strengthen,” she noted.

April 14, 2023