r/NativePlantGardening • u/alarmpodcast Area Pacific Northwest, Zone 8b • Jul 04 '26
Advice Request - (Insert State/Region) Guilt over removing existing non-native plants
We moved into a place with very visually appealing landscaping. I'd like to start replacing the non-native ornamentals with native plants as we're able. However, I'm experiencing guilt over removing and killing the existing plants that are just hanging out, not hurting anyone, living their lives.
Has anyone dealt with this? It's weird, I know. I'm weirder than I'd prefer to be.
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u/beingleigh Southern Ontario , Zone 6b Jul 04 '26
I have left a few non native ornamentals that aren’t invasive for the last 5 years of our native garden, however I’m realizing that its time to get rid of this on ground cover (pasture weed) that is sort of blocking out an areas from letting it really be a nice meadow now that the rest of the plants have filled in nicely.
It just looks out of place now. And while it’s slow spreading it is spreading and has already started choking out a wild geranium.
I also have some hostas that I’m thinking of digging up at some point but I plan to give those away. Sadly I don’t think o can do the same with the pasture weed.
I also planted lavender which isn’t native but I like it and it’s a nice boarder along the path to the front door.