How much time and money do you spend mowing your lawn? Did you know that if you reduce your mowed lawn area you will notice an increase in biodiversity, decrease in pest species, and less overall lawn management?
Only having one type of crop growing is referred to as monoculture. In this case, the typical plant grown for lawns is grass. Only having grass in your yard decreases plant and animal species variety. Grass does not attract pollinators or other insects that birds and small mammals rely on for food. A lack of plant species diversity not only decreases food availability for birds and mammals, but it will deter them due to a lack of other life-sustaining resources (e.g., sheltering habitat).
Common Yarrow (Achillea millefolium L.) - high wildlife value for pollinators.
Native plants are vital for maintaining a biodiverse and healthy ecosystem. Creating a biodiverse yard by planting native species not only provides food for birds and small mammals, but it also offers pest control by making an area in which beneficial insects and birds can thrive. Relying on insects and using less chemicals will allow a variety of plants to grow and will be more beneficial for the environment by decreasing pollutants that enter runoff. This link takes you to MyWoodlot resources that will help you add native plants to your property.
Sometimes it can be difficult to get a garden started, especially depending on your location and the conditions of your yard. Before you buy any native plants for your garden, find out what type of plants would be most suitable for your conditions. Be sure to research plants native to your area and consider different characteristics that you may prefer for your garden. These characteristics include, but are not limited to, woody plants vs. herbaceous plants, perennials vs. annuals, and frost tolerant vs heat tolerant plants, etc.
Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta L.) - high wildlife value for pollinators
For example, if your yard floods easily or you have concerns about soil erosion, consider planting some native grasses or other deep-rooted plants which help stabilize the soil, absorb excess runoff, and require little upkeep. This link takes you to the Native Plant Center at Westchester Community College.
If you prefer something other than grasses, consider planting clover in place of your grass. Clover grows quickly, suppresses weeds and aerates the soil, acting as a natural fertilizer so you do not need to use chemical fertilizers on your lawn. For yards that are very shaded you can find plants that thrive without much sunlight. Sunny yards have more flexibility as you can grow flowers, vegetables, and fruit which tend to require a lot of light.
Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) - high wildlife value for pollinators. Source: Fritzflohrreynolds, Wikimedia Commons.
Even if your yard floods easily, lacks sun, or gets too much sun, you have options. To find out what works best for your situation, it is important to understand the positive and negative aspects of your yard to find a setup that works efficiently. This link takes you to an article called Lawns: Is the grass always greener?
