A gardener who got rid of a nuisance plant in their backyard took to Reddit to show off the spectacular results.
In place of Chinese miscanthus, they went with a native plant prairie. The small space was surrounded by lush, densely packed evergreens, and the native plants added more greenery with a pop of purple flowers. After the poster tossed in some fresh pine bark mulch and watered the area, the renewed garden took on the appearance of an oasis.
Also known as Chinese silvergrass, miscanthus is an invasive species in the United States. It can grow to 12 feet and crowds out native vegetation. "The grass is also extremely flammable and increases fire risks of invaded areas," the Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States reported. "It is native to Asia and was introduced into the United States for ornamental purposes during the late 1800s."
Invasive species cost the country $20 billion annually in mitigation efforts and lost resources. They damage our natural ecosystems by outcompeting other species for nutrients, including sunlight and water.
This poster took the right steps to remedy the issue by turning to native plants, which have adapted over thousands of years to thrive in their environments. If you like the look, you can start small — replacing even just part of your traditional turfgrass or nonnative lawn with native alternatives can save you money on fertilizer, pesticides, maintenance, and water.
Trends in this sphere include rewilding, xeriscaping, and planting clover. Your yard will look better, and pollinators and other wildlife will thank you by paying regular visits, proving you did right by them and Mother Earth.
"Lovely!" one commenter wrote.
Another said: "Thank you! Miscanthus is such a scourge to the local environment. I have seen it [completely] overtake native grasslands."
🗣️ Should the government be paying people to hunt invasive species?
🔘 Definitely 👍
🔘 Depends on the animal 🤔
🔘 No way 👎
🔘 Just let people do it for free 🤷
🗳️ Click your choice to see results and speak your mind
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