How Can I Help?: Saving Nature with Your Yard

by Douglas W. Tallamy

From a New York Times bestselling author, a wildlife ecology expert and environmental advocate provides readers with the next step in their ecological journey.

In How Can I Help?, Tallamy tackles the questions commonly asked at his popular lectures and shares compelling and actionable answers that will help gardeners and homeowners take the next step in their ecological journey. Topics range from ecology, evolution, biodiversity and conservation to restoration, native plants, invasive species, pest control, and supporting wildlife at home. Tallamy keenly understands that most people want to take part in conservation efforts but often feel powerless to do so as individuals. But one person can make a difference, and How Can I Help? details  how.

Whether by reducing your lawn, planting a handful of native species, or allowing leaves to sit untouched, you will be inspired and empowered to join millions of other like-minded people to become the future of backyard conservation.

Genres: Nature, Nonfiction, Gardening, Science, Environment, Ecology, Conservation

376 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2025

About the author

Doug Tallamy is a professor in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware, where he has authored 88 research publications and has taught Insect Taxonomy, Behavioral Ecology, Humans and Nature, Insect Ecology, and other courses for 36 years. Chief among his research goals is to better understand the many ways insects interact with plants and how such interactions determine the diversity of animal communities. His book Bringing Nature Home: How Native Plants Sustain Wildlife in Our Gardens was published by Timber Press in 2007 and was awarded the 2008 Silver Medal by the Garden Writers' Association. The Living Landscape, co-authored with Rick Darke, was published in 2014. Among his awards are the Garden Club of America Margaret Douglas Medal for Conservation and the Tom Dodd, Jr. Award of Excellence.

Reviews

[Shelby Gee · Rating 3 out of 5]

The content of How Can I Help? is fantastic! The ease of reading is meh.
The book is chunked into major topics, which helps you hone in on the section you're looking to read about, and Tallamy gives great answers to questions that many of us may have about things like transforming our yards, oak trees, invasive species, and native plants. Within each section of the book is a series of questions and answers. It's difficult to read for an extended time as it feels disjointed. Additionally, there is no further breakdown within each large section, so if you're looking for something specific, you'll read the whole section to find it.

I love the advice and think this book brings a bounty of knowledge. However, it's hard to use to its full potential.

I received an Advanced Copy.

[Laura Hoffman Brauman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a huge fan of Tallamy's work - Bringing Nature Home, Nature's Best Hope, and The Nature of Oaks are all excellent works that speak to the importance of keystone species and the way that the decisions we make about our own yards can make a huge difference in supporting the environment and local ecosystems. In How Can I Help, Tallamy's newest book, he answers many of the most common questions he has received over the years at numerous presentations. The book is grouped by subject and is an incredible reference. if you are just wanting to consider Tallamy's ideas, Nature's Best Hope is a great place to start. if you are looking to dig in a little deeper on specific topics, this is an excellent resource. As always, when I read Tallamy's work, I come away wanting to plant a few more native trees and flowers.

[Erik Lars · Rating 2 out of 5]

The information in this book is good. Maybe great.

The format of this book is a train wreck.

The organization is haphazard at best, the Q&A format is confusing. They are purportedly questions that the author has received during his talks and lectures, but rather than reframing them to make sense for a book format it's as though he just jotted them down to answer later completely out of context. It is difficult to understand or follow. They don't seem to follow any sort of cohesive plan and while some items are addressed VERY specifically, some are just very vague throwaway answers that just reframe the question.

It seems as though the author really wanted to present information - he's very knowledgeable and thorough - but had no idea how to write it into some sort of coherent narrative. Instead, there are consecutive questions of "I have a 100-year-old house with lots of non-native privet hedges. I can't come up with a replacement to plant along 20 feet of driveway. Any ideas?" (the answer is specific to the Eastern US, sorry everyone else!) and "When presented with a new idea or change, people typically wonder, how does this help me? Or how would people perceive me if I do this? What are some reasons that planting native will benefit the person doing the planting?" (The answer literally starts with the words "What you're really asking is..." well then, dear author, maybe that's the question that should have been posed. It is your book.)

Sometimes questions are in first person, sometimes second person, sometimes third.

Good information, heavily in need of a good editor. A good book if you want to dig in and get random information thrown at you but not, as the cover advertises, "499 Questions and Answers to Help You Take the Next Steps."

[Gillian Brownlee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is definitely one of those books that doesn't do super well if you try to read it cover to cover. It's meant to be referred to and perused. But there's a lot of really good information here. General themes are:

1. Native plants are always better than non-native, even if the non-native isn't invasive.
2. Don't use herbicide if you can help it, but sometimes it's necessary. Like chemotherapy.
3. Caterpillars are really important.
4. If we all put in a little effort, it would make a huge difference.
6. Turf grass lawns are a scam (my words, not his).
5. Vote.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to firstly thank the publisher and NetGalley for a digital review copy/ARC of this title!

I cannot wait to share this book with my friends, family, and patrons! I was first introduced to Doug Tallamy by my local Wild Ones chapter and really enjoyed reading another one of his books (“Nature’s Best Hope”) last year. Consequently, I was thrilled to learn that I had received an ARC of his upcoming title, “How Can I Help?”

If you are looking to learn more about native plants and their importance in our world in an accessible format, this is the book for you. Within its pages, Tallamy expertly answers a wide range of questions he has received over the years as an environmental advocate. As a cofounder of the nonprofit Homegrown National Park and a leading entomologist in his field, his experience and passion for the subject shine through this volume.

Broken into several sections organizing the types of questions he has received (including ecology & evolution, biodiversity, native and non-native plants, oaks, invasive species, pest control, conservation & restoration, home landscapes, and supporting wildlife at home), this book skillfully addresses an assortment of questions with a majority of answers being relayed in layman’s terms. This is definitely a book that can either be read straight through, or as a reference guide to be used as specific scenarios/topics come up.

Overall, I would highly recommend this informative and hopeful read to those looking to generally expand their knowledge on native plants and what we can do as individuals in our own yards to contribute to the larger ecosystem and natural world we are a part of.

[Randall Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lawns originally gained popularity to show your neighbors your wealth – “Hey, I’m so rich I can intentionally remove large parts of my property from food production to create a status symbol.” Native plants that helped local insects and the birds that relied on them were replaced by imported ornamentals, and energy intensive monoculture lawns. Americans soon saw their properties as their own private kingdoms, of which they were lord and master. Never mind that turf grass refuses to store carbon to fight climate change and requires fertilizer, pesticides and lawnmowers. Or US citizens use mosquito fogging which kills a lot more than just mosquitos but instead bees, birds and beneficial predators.

What We Must Do: The future the author wisely says will be a steady-state economy by transitioning a.s.a.p. to a no-growth culture. In other words, doing what no politicians will discuss – heck, we can’t even get rid of bipartisan neoliberalism, let alone capitalism in time to prevent economic collapse. To better learn what you can do with growing native plants instead of invasives in your backyard, check out National Wildlife Federation’s Native Plant Finder, and wildones.org.

What are Spring Ephemerals? Long thought to be those people who exercise hard for one or two days in May to get their bathing suit form back and then just quit, spring ephemerals are actually plants that grow quickly in the ground layer under trees before the leaves above block light. Think of butterflies as “bad-tasting, day flying moths.” They can brazenly fly during the day unlike moths only because birds think butterflies taste like shit. Moths are more important than butterflies because most vertebrates get their energy, not from plants, but from insects who eat plants turning them into protein and fats. “Without moths, life on our terrestrial planet would be a mere shadow of its former self.” Ecologically speaking, moths are much more important than butterflies because “For every single butterfly species, there are 19 species of moths.”

Spider webs really help bird nest construction because spider silk stretches to hold “nestlings within it as they grow.” And spiders eat the mosquitos we don’t like. Spraying pesticides, causes more insect problems than it solves. Oaks support the most species of caterpillars in the US. When feeding nestlings in Spring think of their bird parents bringing more than 800 caterpillars to them EVERY day. Therefore, we need to grow lots of plants that “generate huge numbers of caterpillars”. Know that most birds “depend on high-protein seeds or insects to get them through the year, and the vast majority require insects and spiders to reproduce.” Our job is therefore to actively fight insect decline on our properties, not to chemically fight nature while our wife cabana canoodles with the pool boy. Remember those bug zappers? They kill almost all flying insects except biting flies/mosquitos - (killing only .02% of the targeted pests.) They take out nocturnal insects (and almost no mosquitos) giving your outdoor environment the vibe of a Target parking lot. The natural world is being hindered by the fact that humans have introduced 13,168 plant species where they didn’t belong, offering less nourishment to insects and animals where these non-natives were introduced. “In fact, 61% of non-native plants on the invasive species list are still sold in all lower 48 states.” Notice how most of the time, capitalist profits further injure rather than help the planet.

Our first task is to reactivate our properties as biological corridors where nature is protected from energy intensive non-native turf grass crowding out native species and the animals that clearly depend on them. There are almost 3000 plants native to the United States. Our task (for those of us who are NOT sociopaths or raging narcissists) is to keep non-native plants off our properties, then native species will return free of charge. Think of non-native plants more like a statue – they might impress social climbing friends but not help nature. “The question really is, how many statues do you want in your yard?” The more ornamental plants on your property, the less food for wildlife. If you have acidic soil, plant oaks and azaleas – if your soil has a high pH, think native viburnums. If your soil is compacted, break it up a bit before planting. And don’t forget non-native plants tend to be Zionist – they historically forcibly push out the natives, while your grandma says, “But aren’t they lovely!” “The average life span of an oak is around 900 years.” “Without caterpillars, the vast majority of our birds would not be able to reproduce, and countless lesser-known animals would disappear as well.”

Fun Facts: “370 people are killed each year by toasters.” “An oak with a hollow center can live for hundreds of years.” “Such rot is normal and does not affect the living cambium that lies just under the bark of your oak nor the functional strength of the trunk.” “There are no ecological benefits gained from pruning out deadwood that I know of.” Don’t prune in the spring or summer. You should plant oaks that are 2’ to 3’ tall (which then will include the FULL root ball). Don’t reflexively trust your arborist, especially if he recommends neonicotinoid (a pesticide completely banned in Europe) in which case you ask him, “What? Isn’t that 7000 times MORE toxic to insects than DDT?” When thinking of birds and animals, berries are little more than diet supplements. “Local resident birds do have a fairly small home range” If you need to whack out woody invasive plants, buy a mattock (a quasi-pickaxe). Sunflower seeds are perfect for your bird feeder because house sparrows (an invasive species and technically a finch which crowds out bluebirds) don’t like them. Google Gilbertson nest boxes.

Mosquitos don’t appear in permanent bodies of water that has predators, like a pond – you will find them in pools of temporary water or clogged gutters (where there are no mosquito predators). Deer make your invasives even more invasive because deer don’t touch the invasives, but only eat the natives. Think of planting an American Chestnut tree (see American Chestnut Foundation) that has resistant genes from the Asian Chestnut inserted making it resistant to Chestnut blight. The author also wants you to plant an oak tree (plant the smallest tree you can find (smaller root ball) and select plants that host the most caterpillar species.

Croplands should have native plant verges (strips of land or prairie strips) between them and the public roads instead of the invasive mowed turf that makes the Monarch population tumble. For native verges, plant milkweed, goldenrods, asters, evening primrose, perennial sunflowers for the native bees, grasshoppers, caterpillars and monarchs. Go to your local nursery and ask for whatever natives you are looking for. If they don’t have them, ask if they can order them. If they can’t, go elsewhere. It’s a lost sale and “the owner will take note.” For more Monarchs, plant more milkweed (plant a whole patch, not just one plant), then you will have more Monarchs than their predator assassin bugs can eat. A lot of Monarch eggs are carried off by ants, so if you can, “bring them (eggs) indoors, and rear them through to adults” then release onto Milkweed plants.

The US has 40 million acres of lawn – that’s more than the entire New England. Imagine that instead as biological corridors – lifelines for nature. Google and join Homegrown National Park and register on their map showing the land you are planning to restore, and it will show up on the HNP Biodiversity Map. Switch all your outdoor lights to red or at least yellow and not facing upwards to better help your wildlife through giving moths (etc.) less distraction. And red lights are a win-win if your mom’s also a hooker. Don’t let someone tell you the benefits of lawns capturing carbon: grass roots are super short which barely deposits carbon and then you’ve got the endless cycle of lawn mowing that spews all that climate-changing carbon back into the atmosphere. A few years back I stopped mowing, and now I’ve never seen more birds, pollinators, animals, and native plants on my property in decades. This author’s ideas work; try them and your place will soon feel like a nature preserve, rather than yet another “let’s banish nature to appear civilized” lawn.

Woodchips reduce soil nitrogen in the top few inches of soil underneath them during their decomposition. It would be much more appropriate to call climate change, “drastic climate variability.” Taking down trees that are missing limbs or have a hollow trunk is unnecessary. It could still be a healthy tree. You don’t have to rush to remove non-native ornamentals that are not “serious invasive” like Japanese Maples, Asian cherries, camelias, or forsythia; those aren’t in the nasty category. Try not to remove your leaf litter annually as larvae appear at different times from the leaves and the velvetbean moth won’t emerge until at least the end of August. It is harder for a tree to blow over when there are other trees around it can lock roots with. Caterpillars live off dead leaves, so removing leaves injures them as well as the trees, because trees need the nutrients contained in decaying leaves. When in doubt, leaf it alone. 80 to 90% of a hummingbird’s diet comes not from the red plastic crap you hang with GMO sugar water, but from insects and spiders, so you really need the plants that support them.

Birds don’t like stagnant water, preferring water that makes noise so try to provide water that moves to keep it oxygenated. To stop bird strikes, “non-reflective window glass should be code for all new construction.” To keep more wildlife outside, try to raise your cats indoors with lots of available toys. Just because your find a caterpillar on a certain tree does not mean that’s their host tree; caterpillars crawl a good distance before they spin their cocoons because their parasitoids look for them first on their host plant. Try to make a detailed inventory of all the plants in your yard. Lastly, the author says, “I would rate the loss of insects right up there with climate change.”

This was a great book and the third one I have reviewed by this author; frankly I think his books should be required reading for every US homeowner; take responsibility not just for the safety of your home but for the nature around it that depends on your help even more. And bravo and kudos to the author for dedicating his life to helping nature upon which we all depend. We all must be good stewards of our land.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Doug Tallamy has the best vision for restoring lost ecological habitat. Watch the wildlife return one plant at a time to your backyard.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'll read anything Tallamy publishes--he always inspires me to rethink my gardens. He's just so good at making a really heavy topic--biodiversity loss--feel like something I can personally fight (vs. waiting for government/laws to enact real change). And this is especially important given our current administration. I mean, does anyone think Trump gives a shit about, say, chickadees or watersheds? Absolutely not, but my children and I do. And if you and your kids do, too, I would recommend this book to learn more about what you can do to support both.

I will say that the Q&A can be a little redundant, and I think this book needed to go through editing one more time. There are a few errors, and there are a few sentences that are really clunky and difficult to understand. But I liked how the questions are broken into different topics/chapters, and Tallamy's photographs are gorgeous (though I think he reused one twice in this book). Anyway, I really need to plant some goldenrod now.

[Stella · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a question and answer book along the same vein as other Douglas Tallamy books, but in the format of answering frequently asked questions. If you haven't read any of his books before, I would recommend starting with Bringing Nature Home, though The Nature of Oaks is my personal favorite. Each of his books builds on the others, with new research and resources. Same idea here: Every private property owner needs to be replacing some of their lawn and planting plants that are native to their area. Not just pollinator gardens for the bees and butterflies, but plants that host caterpillars, which support so much of the food web like nesting birds. So get yourself a native plant guide to your region, ask for native plants at your local nurseries, and start planting! No space is too small to make a difference...a window box or patio pot is a good start, especially if other neighbors join you. If you have room for an oak tree, even better. I live in a state with only one native oak tree, and I'm from a state that has no native oaks, so again, it's very important to learn what's native to your space. There are books and websites to help you, and online groups. Every state has a Native Plant Society. Get informed and join the movement!

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow !!! this is a big (over 300 page) book with so much comprehensive information to help in your gardens, yards and help all the birds and animals that might show up. This book must have taken hours and hours of research. It's broken up in large chunks with the chapters being Ecology and evolution, Biodiversity, Native and Non Native Plants, Oaks, Invasive Species, Pest Control, Conservation and Restoration Home Landscapes, Supporting Wildlife at Home and concluding questions. When you read this book you will want to set aside the time to dive deep into these categories, Once you read it though I am sure you will have some specific parts that you will come back to from time to time. I definitely marked spots that I know I will need in the future.
I really like at the end that he also included Online resources to further your search if needed and whole slew of sustainability initiatives for anyone who's interest.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

[Stephanie Ricker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Useful as a reference guide or to skim for topics/issues that interest you most rather than as a read-cover-to-cover book, but I enjoyed cherrypicking the questions and found myself reading more and more of them as I went along. Tallamy is driven and optimistic in his ecology goals--some might say unrealistic--but I appreciated the enthusiasm. The man sure loves caterpillars.

[Olivia Morgado · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doug Tallamy is the best! I would not recommend this for a first time reader of his work. For that I would recommend either Bringing Nature Home or Nature’s Best Hope (both should be read by all homeowners in our nation!) However this was a great, in depth work where he covers almost 500 questions he has received about native plants, local insects, and how to fight the biodiversity crisis. I listened on audiobook, but I would love to get a physical copy at some point as it would be an excellent reference book. Save the caterpillars! 🐛💕

[M Aghazarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Doug Tallamy is brilliant, and this book is no exception. It is packed with actionable advice, and a great reference book to keep on hand. The Q&A structure makes it so easy to read, because you can pick it up, read a few questions, and come back to it whenever you have time. Winter is a particularly good time to read this to get hyped about all that spring will bring.

[Bridgett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read a library copy of this book but I’ll be buying my own copy for referencing! It’s that good.

[Justin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love reading about ecology and Doug Tallamy presents his understanding of the current ecological crisis in a no-frills, easy to understand format. I also happen to love plants and cannot get enough of the dialogue about increasing stability to the local ecosystem by increasing the use of native plants. It’s encouraging and entirely accessible. He also helps me justify my attempts to decrease the area of lawn at my house, to varying degrees of success. Doug Tallamy is like a local celebrity to me here in SE PA. He shows his sense of humor and at times he is a bit snarky and bleeds a little frustration. Seems like it would be fun to take his entomology class at UD .

[Allison Payenski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would recommend this book for so many reasons, whether you are someone who likes gardening or not, and especially for someone who likes to maintain a grassy lawn. Formatted in the style of Q and A, it read well from the first chapter to the last, or you can just skip to whatever question you need answered. Keep an open mind and a notebook handy, and consider what you can do to improve the space you "own". This book is an entomologist's perspective on how to build a backyard to have a more positive ecological impact, and more people need to be informed on these topics for longevity of insects which influence our lives more than we realize.

[Cec · Rating 4 out of 5]

More of a question/answer format but still very interesting and important stuff to learn about being better stewards of the earth.

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this book to have as a reference and I wasn't expecting to sit down and read through it like it was a novel- but I did.
Very easy to read and I recommend tabbing the pages that are relevant to what you are trying to do for your specific yard.

[Lola · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy from the publisher through Netgalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

I am so glad I got this one through Netgalley. This book changed how I think about nature and ecology. It has expanded my knowledge so much and I loved learning so much in depth knowledge about a topic I am interested in, but knew little about. It was so engaging reading this book and learning more about how ecosystems work, the importance of pollinators, caterpillars, the way individual people can help and more.

I liked the positive tone of this book. While it shares a lot of sad reality about how nature isn't doing well, the author very much focuses on what we can do to help. I liked realizing the impact even a single yard can have and how the author explains how to handle this. I also liked how he also understands people want some specific plants that might not be natives or still have lawn in their yard and how to incorporate those and still have your lawn help the ecosystem as well. It was obvious how much knowledge he has about the topic.

This is book is fully made up of questions the author got asked and his answers to those. These questions are sorted by theme in a chapter. I liked this way of organizing the book as there would be a lot of questions and thus information about a certain topic before moving on to the next. I liked how the question and answer format allowed me to easily pick it up and read for as long as I wanted. It was easy to pick it up and get back into it with a new question and I could set the book aside after reading one or more questions.

It took me a long time to get through this book as I wanted to take my time and allow for my brain to process the new information. Some days I didn't read at all, some days I read one or a few questions and other days I could read whole pages in a row. I enjoyed being able to experience this book that way and to expand my knowledge. It inspired me and if a future house has a garden I definitely want to apply some of the things I learned from this book.

The focus of the book is on the United States and it names specific plants and flowers that are native to the USA or issues that currently play in the USA. Despite not living in the USA I thought this book was very helpful as a lot of the general principles apply across continents. It made me excited to look up what native plants are in the Netherlands and hopefully find some good sources for that.

To summarize: I really enjoyed this book. It was awesome learning so much new information about a topic I am interested in, but didn't know a lot about. This book vastly expanded my knowledge of nature and ecology. It also inspired me to apply some of the ideas to my own garden if a future house has one. I liked the question and answer style of the book with the questions grouped per topic. It was easy to pick the book up and read as many questions with answers as I wanted. I also really liked the encouraging tone and the focus on how individual people can make a difference and help nature with their yard. All in all I had an awesome time reading this book and can recommend it to everyone wanting to know more about ecology and what they can do to help nature.

[J Kromrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Douglas W. Tallamy’s "How Can I Help? Saving Nature with Your Yard" is a call to arms, a quiet but urgent revolution for anyone who has ever looked at their backyard and wondered whether it could be doing more.

Tallamy, known for his work in conservation and native plants, continues his crusade against ecological apathy, offering homeowners, gardeners, and everyday citizens a tangible way to make a difference in their own slice of the world.

A Shift in Perspective
One of Tallamy’s greatest strengths is his ability to reframe ordinary landscapes as critical ecosystems. Lawns, traditionally seen as symbols of suburban neatness, are unmasked here as sterile monocultures, stripped of biodiversity. Tallamy dismantles the idea that environmental conservation is an exclusive endeavor reserved for policymakers or scientists. Instead, he argues that real change starts at home—with native plants, thoughtful landscaping, and a rejection of the aesthetic conventions that prioritize uniformity over ecological health.

Unlike some environmental books that drown readers in abstract ideals, "How Can I Help?" thrives on actionable advice. Tallamy outlines clear steps for readers to transform their own yards into thriving habitats—no need for grand gestures, just a willingness to rethink traditional gardening norms. Whether it’s planting keystone species that support insect populations or eliminating pesticide use, the book offers a practical roadmap to rebuilding ecosystems from the ground up. His writing balances optimism and urgency; the planet is struggling, yes, but individuals wield incredible power to restore what has been lost.

This book speaks to multiple audiences: the seasoned environmentalist will find affirmation in Tallamy’s work, while the beginner—perhaps someone who never thought twice about the importance of their backyard—will leave with a newfound sense of responsibility. Tallamy doesn’t preach; he persuades, with evidence, logic, and a passion that’s hard to ignore.

"How Can I Help?" is an instruction manual and an inspiration that challenges conventional wisdom about land stewardship, offering an alternative vision in which yards, gardens, and public spaces become tools for ecological recovery.

By the last page, you won’t just be convinced—you’ll be ready to act.

[Tabseattle · Rating 5 out of 5]

The problem begins with our estrangement from nature…
Urban Sprawl: in 2009, 80% of the people in the world lived in or near a town or city. In the state of Washington alone, over 35,000 acres of wildlife habitat are destroyed or degraded each year for housing and other development. Rural settings are no longer safe havens for native species due to monocropping, GMOs, and pesticide use, causing wildlife to immigrate into cities and suburbs in the search of food and shelter.

Urban public spaces, parks, yards, and parking strips appear green but are often planted with turf-grass and exotic or invasive plants which offer little or no sustenance to native fauna. Worryingly, the EPA reports that homeowners in the U.S. use 70 million pounds of herbicides & pesticides per year. The ugly reality is that your backyard may be laced with a toxic cocktail of chemicals that are deadly. Of 30 commonly used lawn pesticides 19 are found in our groundwater, 22 are toxic to birds, all 30 are toxic to fish and aquatic organisms, 29 are deadly to bees, and 14 are toxic for mammals; some fungicides and pesticides can kill 60-90% of the earthworms where they are applied. In addition, the EPA reports that the run-off from lawn care products into our fresh water includes carcinogens, hormonal disruptors, and neurotoxins, and that there are no federal regulations for these products.

How Can I Help? Saving Nature with Your Yard by Douglas Tallamy offers many answers. He outlines how individuals and families can take small actions that add up to create backyard wildlife sanctuaries that create healthy ecosystems and wildlife corridors in our neighborhoods.

This book will enhance any library. It is easy to navigate and has information for both beginners and seasoned gardeners. I would recommend this book for homeowners, teachers, and gardeners, or anyone really, who yearns to reconnect with nature.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

How Can I Help? is an accessible, interesting, and often sobering look at natural diversity and the challenges of invasive species in the context of suburban and exurban spaces presented by Dr. Douglas Tallamy. Released 8th April 2025 by Hachette on their Timber Press imprint, it's 376 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

According to the WHO one of the biggest threats to humanity is the loss of biodiversity across climates and geographical areas. Dr. Tallamy does a good job of presenting the facts along with a list of achievable local/personal actions readers can incorporate which will have a net positive benefit for local native species.

It's written in layman accessible language and although it's not annotated or academically rigorous, the author does a very good job of "showing his work" and the resources bibliography and links at the end of the book will provide readers with many hours of further reading. The concluding chapter/appendix contains a number of good questions from the author for readers to consider.

Graphically, it's simple and direct. There's not a lot of photography, but what there is, is high quality, clear, and in color.

Four stars. Dr. Tallamy has a strong and sure voice, and provides concrete ideas for helping recover our planet. It would be an excellent choice for public or school library acquisition, for home use, and for book club discussion.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes

[AcademicEditor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been getting more into native gardening lately, so I was excited to pick up Doug Tallamy’s latest book, "How Can I Help?"--especially after loving his previous work. While there’s a ton of great info here, I have mixed feelings about how it’s presented.

Let’s start with the good: Tallamy’s passion for conservation is contagious, and his expertise is beyond question. He makes a strong case for why our backyards matter in the bigger ecological picture, and I walked away with some solid takeaways like prioritizing native plants, reducing lawn space, and leaving fallen leaves for insects. The science is broken down in a way that’s easy to grasp, even if you’re not an ecologist.

That said, the Q&A format is not my favorite. While it’s cool to see real questions from readers, it makes the book feel scattered. If I wanted to look up something specific--say, how to handle invasive species--I had to flip through whole sections hoping to stumble on the right answer. A more organized guide with chapters focused on themes (like "Getting Started" or "Troubleshooting") would’ve been way more user-friendly.

I also wish there were more visuals (photos, charts, or diagrams) to break up the text and illustrate key points. Some sections dragged because they were just blocks of Q&A without much variation. Still, the content itself is so valuable. Check this one out!

Thanks to NetGalley and Timber Press for the ARC!

[Valorie Hallinan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I do not recommend this book, especially if you are new to learning how to return your yard into a healthy, native habitat. I doubt that more experienced enthusiasts would get much out of this book either, since is it a series of random question, loosely organized according to topics, that range from the highly specific to sweeping generalizations, in no particular order. I did find some of the more general questions to be informative, but for someone new to these concepts I really found myself at sea here. What's more, technical vocabulary and concepts are often not explained; it is assumed that the reader will know these meanings or look them up elsewhere. I've no doubt this author is an expert, but I agree with Erik Lars who left the one-star review, it is as if the author didn't know how to organize his theme into a cohesive book, didn't want to, and certainly did not have an editor who could help him do this. This is doubly frustrating because I read about this book in the NYTimes and I am baffled by the endorsement.

[Ann Burruss · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like learning about nature, plants, birds, bugs but don't want a textbook this question and answer format book is for you. Pick and choose the topics you are interested in. Ordered by general topic, oaks, or invasive species, etc., read up on what appeals and skip the rest. Some of the information repeats, but little enough so that a cover to cover read is worth it too.

Doug Tallamy is on a mission to convince the world to devote some space for native plants in any piece of land they control, no matter the size. Control a patio? Put native milkweed and goldenrod in pots. Control a suburban yard? Remove invasive exotics piece by piece and plant native shrubs, plants, and an oak tree or three.

The sixth mass extinction is underway, but this is not a depressing book because unlike some problems, there is something each individual can do. Plant some locally appropriate native plants with high wildlife value! You can do it.

[Hanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m reading another book by the author now, but I got this from the library and found myself coming back to it again and again, until I finished it well before the other book. It’s so easy to read because of the question and answer format, and I was surprised at how compelling that format turned out to be. I also feel like I retained a lot. There’s a certain amount of repetition because some questions overlap and have similar answers, but ultimately I think that’s good for learning. As for the contents of the book specifically, I’m already totally convinced that planting native plants that support insect and bird life is extremely important, but I think this could be a great entry point for anyone into that world.

[Cozy Champagne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Doug Tallamy's books and his advice on how to make your backyard more friendly to wildlife. This easy-to-read question-and-answer format in "How Can I Help?: Saving Nature with Your Yard" works great and gets to the heart of things without much waffle.

There are tons of awesome tips here to help people make small differences in their own backyards. Many of these tips impart knowledge and are something that anyone can put into action.

I have already recommended this book to a couple of friends and would highly recommend it to anyone who loves nature and wants to have a tiny National Park outside their door. Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Cassandra Lashae · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the scope of this book and how it brings a narrow view of what homeowners can do to help nature. Key takeaway being to reduce the use of unnecessary and harmful pesticides/herbicides, reduce artificial lighting at night, mow less surface area, and make sure landscaped areas use native plants. It's practical, not too philosophical and gives good information and references other resources for those who want to do a deep dive into what to plant or weed out. I didn't mind the Q&A topic organization to much, but it also got a bit repetitive if you are reading it cover to cover instead of using it to find specific answers.

[Tammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was hard for me to decide how to rate this book. As noted on the cover this is a collection of questions and answers. Namely, questions the author has gotten through the years. I found the questions kind of a mixed bag. Some were really specific and not applicable, others I got interesting information out of the authors. There also was some repitition in the answers. If you are new to native plant gardening and looking for a good book to get the basics and get started, this is not the book for you. However, if you've read some of Tallamy's other books and have the basic ideas and want to learn more, there is some interesting information in here.

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative, eye-opening, and inspiring read. It’s filled with practical insights about how the choices we make in our own yards can have a real impact on local ecosystems. Some of the content was immediately useful, while other parts were a bit over my head for now, but that just means it’s a book I’ll return to as I keep working toward turning my yard into a native plant haven. I definitely recommend it to anyone looking to make meaningful changes and contribute to the food web in their own backyard.