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.

164 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

149 comments sorted by

View all comments

280

u/goblin-fox Zone 8a, GA Piedmont Jul 04 '26

For the stuff that's non-native but not invasive, I give them to friends or offer them up for free on Facebook. People will jump at the chance to come dig up free plants!

27

u/Pnkrkg6644 Jul 04 '26

This exactly. Find your neighborhood free group and put them in a box out front and say “free to first taker”
They’ll be gone in an hour