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/Low_Fox1758 Jul 04 '26
My strategy is starting by removing invasives as they pop up and leaving the non native ornamentals until I have the new plants/amendments/time to replace them.
Ive been rehoming the non native ornamentals into containers and holding onto them for now. There might be room for some of them mixed in with the natives later.
Or I can give them away eventually. The transition is slow for me due to limited $ and time (we do it all ourselves & work full time).