A bigger issue is how people maintain their yards.
Lawns are the ecological equivalent of a parking lot. Lawns are terrible for the local species, as are all of the non-native species used in modern landscaping. Once you learn what is actually native and what is not, you’ll be completely shocked at how few native species we cultivate.
Another really huge issue is everyone religiously scrubbing their yard of fallen leaves. Leaves need to stay on the ground. They are essentially compost for trees, and tons and tons of bugs lay eggs in fallen leaves, including fireflies.
I quit mowing my lawn and let some native plants grow up in place of grass and stopped eradicating the fallen leaves, and that summer my yard was absolutely lit the fuck up with fireflies.
All of this is currently reversible. We just have to stop buying into stupid capitalist yard maintenance traditions and start working with the native species. It’s honestly much less work than trying to make all of these Chinese species that are in everyone’s yards work.
Look into soft landings under your trees, native plants and grasses. If space is limited feel free to target your desired species with their host plants, such as milk weed for monarchs. Don’t be afraid to let your fence rows and ditches grow, low traffic areas are great for growing native plants.
Yeah, I have a native prairie instead of a lawn, even though it is not that big. My city likes to cite native yards, especially in the fall and winter.
I love my yard and the pollinators and vertebrates love it too! Butterflies, bees, birds, bats, fireflies, snakes etc etc. It is good to see them thrive in this little space.
A bigger issue is how people maintain their yards. Lawns are the ecological equivalent of a parking lot. Lawns are terrible for the local species, as are all of the non-native species used in modern landscaping. Once you learn what is actually native and what is not, you’ll be completely shocked at how few native species we cultivate.
Another really huge issue is everyone religiously scrubbing their yard of fallen leaves. Leaves need to stay on the ground. They are essentially compost for trees, and tons and tons of bugs lay eggs in fallen leaves, including fireflies.
I quit mowing my lawn and let some native plants grow up in place of grass and stopped eradicating the fallen leaves, and that summer my yard was absolutely lit the fuck up with fireflies.
All of this is currently reversible. We just have to stop buying into stupid capitalist yard maintenance traditions and start working with the native species. It’s honestly much less work than trying to make all of these Chinese species that are in everyone’s yards work.
Fucking nailed it neighbor, well said.
Look into soft landings under your trees, native plants and grasses. If space is limited feel free to target your desired species with their host plants, such as milk weed for monarchs. Don’t be afraid to let your fence rows and ditches grow, low traffic areas are great for growing native plants.
Yeah, I have a native prairie instead of a lawn, even though it is not that big. My city likes to cite native yards, especially in the fall and winter.
I love my yard and the pollinators and vertebrates love it too! Butterflies, bees, birds, bats, fireflies, snakes etc etc. It is good to see them thrive in this little space.