Understanding lakeshore ecosystems — Part 5: Selecting native plants
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EmailPlanting native plants on your lakeshore can help to enhance the ecosystem by providing habitat for animals and aquatic animals. There are many resources available to help you select the plants that are best suited to your lakeshore.
A 2007 National Lake Assessment, conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), reported that “Poor lake shore habitat is the biggest problem in the nation’s lakes.” Planting native plants on your lakeshore can help to enhance the ecosystem by providing habitat for animals and aquatic animals. There are many resources available to help you select the plants that are best suited to your lakeshore. Here are a number of links to help you decide what will work best:
- Michigan Natural Shoreline Partnership’s Natural Shoreline Landscapes on Michigan Inland Lakes Guidebook for Property Owners. This guide is an invaluable resource to use when embarking on a lakeshore project. It discusses plants and the importance of the plants, where they are placed, how they are planted and why native plants work.
- The following articles from Michigan State University Extension also focus on the value of plants along lakeshores:
- “Smart trees and shrubs for natural shoreline plantings.” In this article, you’ll learn what native trees and shrubs help protect shorelines and provide beauty.
- “Making your native plant choices for Michigan inland lake shorelines.” This article covers why protecting water quality means protecting inland lake shorelines from erosion and storm water runoff and selecting a Michigan native plants for shoreline planting.
- The “Native plants for naturalizing your lakeshore property” article shares why plant selection is key to creating a natural shoreline.
- Learn how you can love your lake by planting smart plants that are native to Michigan in “Smart lakefront plants.”
- “Reap the benefits of natural shoreline landscapes” is an article that discusses developing landscapes that protect and restore natural shorelines while preserving water quality and improving fish and wildlife habitat.
