I recently found out that meadows of native grasses and flowers can act as a carbon sink.
A acre of wild meadow can store as much carbon per acre as a tropical rainforest. Plus, since they are not mowed each week or fertilized with synthetic nutrients, that is an acre not contributing to climate change.
I recently made the decision that I am going to turn a large part of my yard into a restored meadow with native grass and wildflowers. I plan to till the land and seed it come fall. I am already looking at signs to put out for neighbors that complain about “unkempt” yards.
If you maybe interested in how to turn your yard into a meadow or what climate benefits they provide. Check out Lawns to Meadows: Growing a Regenerative Landscape by Owen Wormser.
@April, Good topic. I am interested in going from Lawn to Meadow. Two years ago, I discovered to my dismay that the gorgeous garden I've been planting and working for thirty years is mostly non native plants that as a result of being non native, do not support local pollinators. Pollination is the key to wildlife survival. So I planted a ton of native plants around my garden, and for the first time this summer, I am seeing two little butterflies who are visiting my native plants. Thirty years ago we had turtles, butterflies, monarchs included, and frogs. Today they are all gone. I hope to slowly convert the lawn to more native plant beds and create a garden that supports wildlife.
@jeanne-mayell That's wonderful that you're converting your garden to native plants! I'm in year 3 of a garden that is 65-70% natives and I've seen more wildlife with each passing season.
It has to do in part with the growth of the plants themselves (more blooms, more habitat, etc.), but I suspect it may also have to do with the microbes in the soil. Just as the microbiome in our gut improves when we give it healthy foods, I wonder if the same thing happens when we give the soil native plants to interact with. The whole system is knit together in a stronger, more vibrant way as a result.
@jeanne-mayell I hope more people will consider going lawn to meadow as I feel it is an easy solution to help with the pressure our local fauna are facing with climate change. However many people have HOAs or government entities that are not native meadow friendly. 😢
I have spent most of the spring and summer gathering seed from native plants. I am planning a chaos native meadow. Chaos because I am going to cast my seed and allow nature to take its course. I don’t plan to baby any of the plants. Simply seed and let it be.
My current plan is to start this fall by cutting back my “lawn” as short as possible and then using the tractor to gently till the top couple of inches. Then I am going to broadcast my mixed seed.
I am hoping it will look chaotically beautiful.
@april The few people I know who have turned their lawns into native gardens have told me that the natives don't necessarily take over. For a few years, non native agressive invasives may overrun untended growing spaces. My experience with some of the invasive weeds in my veggie garden is that if I aggressively weed them out, giving the desireable plants more chance, after about two years, some of the invasives stop coming as often. So have faith in your project and keep checking with native gardeners for advice.
One friend who has totally eliminated her lawn and replanted with all natives, now see box turtles, and many kinds of moths and butterflies. Her lawn is a wonder to behold. It is like taking a hike in the woods, with only a stone path for humans to walk on. The rest is her native plants, shrubs and trees. We both got our plants from the Native Plant Trust, a group that certfies native plants as truly native.