"Green" Tips for Your Yard

Native Norwalk Plants


Native plants are plants that have historically grown naturally in an area. Native plants are perfectly adapted to thrive in our area – these species have developed here in harmony with our soils, climate, and fauna. In addition to thriving, they often require less water to maintain and attract desirable wildlife.

Whether you are looking for ideas for your application, or are simply wishing to establish a pretty garden in your backyard, explore the links on this page for guides and tips that are made for Connecticut!
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Plant Guides


Norwalk Guide to Native Wetland Plantings (13MB;PDF)
Moisture Tolerant Plants Native to Connecticut (PDF)
Connecticut Native Tree and Shrub Availability List (PDF)
UCONN's Plant Database
PLANTS Database of the USDA-NRCS
Water-Effiecient Landscaping Guide

Don't TRASH Grass!


Looking for a more 'green' green lawn? Explore the CT DEP's grass recycling page. Have a heathly lawn...and a healthy environment for your family! more at DEP>>

Home Composting


Home composting is an easy way to add some 'green' to your yard.
Composting:
  • keeps food scraps, yard trimmings and grass out of the waste stream,
  • reduces waste handling and disposal costs,
  • returns valuable nutrients to the soil,
  • and reduce the need for chemical fertilizers.
Explore CT DEP's Organics Recycling page. more>>

Discover more 'green' gardening tips in these older - but still excellent - fact sheets from Long Island Sound Study. more>>
 

Non-Native Invasive Plant Lists


Plants that originate outside of our area are non-native plants. Many non-native plants are great and add showy foliage & flowers to our landscape, provide disease- and pest-resistent options, and provide diversity.

Some non-native plants, however, have undesirable characteristics, including invasiveness. Non-native invasive plants are able to outcompete our native plants. Not only do these plants NOTprovide the habitat or food source resources that our native wildlife populations need to survive, they contribute to the loss of the native plants that do.
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In Connecticut, it is now illegal to cultivate, transplant or sell certain non-native invasive plants, see the list and fines:
CT Public Act 04-203

Invasive Plant Lists & Removal Tips:
CT Invasive Plant Working Group (CIPWG) is a great informative website that includes factsheets and management options.

For a complete list of CT invasive plants:
Connecticut Invasive Plants Council: Invasive Plant List

In the event that you identify the following invasive plants, please alert the CIPWG and attempt to eradicate the plant!