By Kaaren Grimminger, Nebraska Extension Master Gardener
When considering plants, it is best to buy plants “native” to the Panhandle. The “natives’ are used to our soil and they’re used to the pests here. In other words, these plants know how to survive and survive well in the Panhandle. And speaking of “native”, this spring has been beneficial for thistles. There are native thistles and non-native thistles. The non-native are considered “noxious” which means they can be invasive and directly harmful to humans, to livestock and to wildlife. More on thistles later.Â