WHO KNEW So Many Experts Support Reducing the Size of our Lawns?
In a recent discussion between Margaret Roach (NY Times’ gardening guru )and Dan Wilder, (Director of Applied Ecology at Norcross WildlifeFoundation in Wales, Massachusetts, an 8,000 acre sanctuary), Wildersaid, “Lawns are a whole lot of work, and they don’t give us anything in return.” There are several Youtube videos featuring Dan’s ideas, but one of several that has especially caught people’s attention is *Kill Your Lawnwith Dan Jaffe Wilder* (5/11/22) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TF3elkOcqr8 He says, in most cases, lawns really just don’t have a good role in today’s world and calls them a waste of time, money, and valuable space. However, he also says most people are not ready for a full swing into destroying their lawns and woul do better to start very small than not at all.
Wilder suggests starting by not mowing one’s grass too short. He believes the grass should be allowed to gradually grow longer; 4 inches is the best height. He also suggests cutting back on fertilizer and irrigation. Thendig out any unwanted trees, especially Buckthorn with their 3” thorn-lik spikes. It is one of the worst invasives in this area. Others who let their area “go wild” ensure trees and other unwanted plants don’t take over, by mowing their lawns down at the end of the season before anything can reall take hold. Still others remove lawns by covering the area with cardboard felt or other blocking materials during the winter, and once the grass is dead, putti in specific plants such as Fescues, or blended seeds.
Nurseries carrying eco seeds include:
Wildflower Farm (101 95 Hwy 12 Coldwater, On,Canada; Customer Service: (866-476- 9453)
Prairie Moon Nursery www.prariemoon.com
Ernst Conservation Seeds sales@enstseed.com
Fedco Seeds www,feedcoseeds.com/seeds/
Dan suggests that, if you want a lawn that still looks more like a traditional lawn, use a grass-like plant called Pennsylvania sedge, Carex Pensylvanica.
I’ve been working on a new area for about a year that was 100% briars, small trees (including buckthorn), and a below ground matting of wild rose roots everywhere. Now there are four new beautiful trees, several floweringbushes, different kinds of tall grasses, and some really interesting bulbs. Dan’s article helped me clarify that my choice for the new ground cover will either be a wild strawberry [Fragaria Virginiana] that supports about87 different species of Lepidoptera butterflies and also bears small, tasty edible berries or plain old white clover from Fedco Seeds.