Now that spring is here, everyone is thinking outdoor; patios, decks, gardens, lawns. I tend to have my head stuck in the garden, practically willing plants out of the ground. But I know a fair number of people who, although they may like gardens, love their lawns. Vast green expanses of perfection, perfect for walking barefoot on, having a picnic on, or riding over with your mower.
These beautiful green gems are however, difficult to maintain, can be costly, frequently sprayed with chemical and not nearly as good for the earth and air as a garden or trees. So...what to do?
If you have a lawn or are planning or putting in a lawn you can make some positive changes and keep your green spread, by turning it into a bio-diverse lawn. Simply grow two or more low, mowable, green ground covers. My favorite blend for
Seed
- Available from Wildflower farm in
- Mother-of-thyme, Richters or garden centres
- White clover, farm seed and supply
There are also a fair number of steppables and other ground covers that can handle traffic. Find ones suited to your sun/shade conditions. Talk to owners at garden centres and find a hardy-grass seed that needs the least amount of mowing.
Remember, lawns don't need to be perfect and variety can be much prettier. Lawn grass is not even native to our province nor is it sustainable. Diversifying your lawn also helps combat grubs, a fierce problem in our area thanks to all those cute little June bugs. A flat green healthy space of diverse lawn is useful and essential to good design. Be wise and explore your options and let the dandelions grow.
Photographs from online source. From left to right: dandelion, white clover, thyme
Yeah my lawn is a beeper, sometimes I want to light it on fire and just take care of my new dirt patch, my water bill would be cheaper thats for sure.
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