Let ’ s face it , grass lawns are a waste of space . By replacing yours with a colourful , fragrant pollinator garden , you ’ ll be helping birds and pollinator insects and you won ’ t have to spend a moment mowing .
by Matt LeBannister
The ubiquitous grass lawn was originally conceived by
British nobles as a display of wealth , showing they had so much arable land that they could afford to not grow crops . As time went on , this practice made its way to the middle-class homes where a well-trimmed , weed-free lawn , with a white picket fence has become the staple image in the minds of many of the ideal suburban yard . But who does this benefit ? Certainly not our pollinating insects whose populations are in steep decline . This understanding has led to a new trend , one which benefits these helpful insects . People are beginning to ditch their lawnmowers and sterile grass lawns and replace them with native wildflowers and pollinator-attracting plants , creating an environment more resembling nature with beauty and practicality in mind .
Why are Pollinator Gardens Important ?
Grass lawns are generally a monoculture , as in only one type of grass . When this grass is mowed often it really doesn ’ t have the ability to support much in the way of insect life . It doesn ’ t have the chance to flower or seed . And even when allowed to grow longer in between mows ( re : no mow May ), it will only support a minimal amount of insect life for a brief period of time . To provide a good environment for pollinators and beneficial insects , you need a variety of plants ; some that produce pollen and some that can provide a place for insects to live and reproduce . And who likes mowing their lawn anyway ? The most compelling reason to convert your lawn to a pollinator garden is the massive decline of pollinator populations . The number of wild bees has dropped drastically in the last decade . And the iconic monarch butterfly has just been declared endangered . Without a rethinking of urban and suburban gardens there is little hope for these creatures .
Getting Rid of the Grass
The first step in turning your lawn into a pollinator paradise filled with wildflowers and nectarproducing plants is to remove the grass . There are several ways to accomplish the seemingly impossible task . The first option is to dig up the turf by hand . This is hard work , especially with large lawns and not recommended . I would suggest renting a sod cutting tool . There are various types available ; some manual , and others electric or gas powered . These tools will make quick work of removing the sod in such a way that it can be moved and transplanted to another location or composted , and are fairly easy to use .
Maximum Yield 45