As spring planting season arrives, the St. Lawrence Eastern Lake Ontario Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (SLELO PRISM) is launching a campaign to promote climate-smart gardening. 

This initiative encourages local gardeners to make plant choices that support resilient ecosystems while helping to combat the spread of invasive species in New York State.

Through the Pledge to Protect outreach initiative, SLELO PRISM is urging residents to prioritize native plants in their gardens. By avoiding invasive species and ornamental plants that can disrupt local ecosystems, gardeners can play a significant role in maintaining biodiversity and creating healthy landscapes.

"Invasive species are often introduced unknowingly through landscaping choices," said Megan Pistolese-Shaw, Education Outreach & Communications Coordinator for SLELO PRISM. "Climate-smart gardening allows people to take meaningful action in their own yards, preventing invasive species from spreading and fostering more climate-resilient habitats for wildlife."

A key resource in this effort is the Gardener Protector Toolkit, a free, comprehensive guide to climate-smart gardening. The toolkit offers practical advice on selecting native plants, avoiding harmful ornamental species, and creating wildlife-friendly landscapes. It empowers gardeners to make informed decisions that support local biodiversity and ecological health.

SLELO PRISM emphasizes the importance of selecting plants suited to local conditions and climate. Native species, which are adapted to the environment, provide numerous benefits, such as supporting pollinators, reducing the need for chemical inputs, and improving overall landscape health. The initiative also advises gardeners to rethink popular ornamental plants that could pose long-term ecological risks.

The Gardener Protector Toolkit includes helpful resources such as the New York Flora Atlas, Native Plant Finder, and Cornell CALS’ "Alternatives to Invasive Ornamentals." Additionally, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) provides accessible guides to help gardeners make informed choices that align with local ecosystems.

SLELO PRISM encourages residents to take the Pledge to Protect, committing to climate-smart gardening practices that benefit both individual gardens and the broader community. To learn more, visit sleloinvasives.org and ipledgetoprotect.org.