Morris Township panel urges residents to shrink lawns, plant natives and 'leave the leaves'

A Morris Township Environmental Commission panel on sustainable landscaping urged homeowners to reduce lawn area, plant native host and nectar plants, and keep fallen leaves and standing stems as habitat for insects and birds.

Bianca Wright, a landscape designer and gardener of 30 years, told the audience ecology-based gardening centers on plant choice and timing. "Plant them and they will come," she said, describing how host plants such as orange milkweed drew monarch caterpillars within a year. Wright recommended using resources such as the Native Plant Society of New Jersey, the National Wildlife Federation and ZIP-code plant-finder tools to match host plants and pollinators. She advised avoiding nursery-sold invasive species and using layered planting (structural shrubs, seasonal perennials, green groundcover as “green mulch”) so beds look intentional while supporting wildlife.

Bridget Daly, a Madison Environmental Commission member and certified Rutgers environmental steward, said keeping leaves and plant stems in place…