How can using native plants contribute to pest management?

Using native plants in landscaping plays a significant role in pest management due to their evolved adaptations to local environmental conditions, including pests. Native plants have co-evolved with the insects and diseases found in their native habitats, which often results in natural resistance to local pests. This resilience helps minimize the need for chemical interventions, such as pesticides.

By planting native species, you create an ecosystem that attracts beneficial insects and pollinators, which help control pest populations naturally. This can lead to a more balanced and sustainable environment, reducing dependency on chemical pest control methods. Additionally, these plants are generally better suited to local soil and climate conditions, which contributes to their overall health and resilience.

In contrast, other options such as increasing dependency on pesticides, reducing resilience to local pests, or enhancing soil compaction effects do not align with the positive attributes of using native plants in pest management. Native plants support pest management through natural processes rather than requiring additional chemical inputs or creating vulnerabilities to local pests.