GARDEN CLUB
Monterey
FOR THE POLLINATORS:
Replacing Lawns with Pollinator-Friendly Plants
I. Lawns
Monocultures
II. Plight of pollinators
Not enough diversity and variety – they are not attracted to lawns
Pesticides and herbicides can be toxic – pollute water sources
III. How we can help
Minimize pesticides and herbicide use (these kill the only thing the pollinators could gather, i.e. violets, dandelions)
Replace monoculture (lawns) with flowering plants or grasses
Provide access to clean water
Mutual dependence of plants and pollinators – each require the other one to thrive or survive
IV. Tips on removing lawns
Till in the fall to disrupt storage of starches
Cover thickly with cardboard (remove tape)
Mulch with leaves or woodchips to hold cardboard in place
V. Replace lawns with pollinator-friendly plants
Flowers, weeds, trees and shrubs
Weeds: Joe Pye, boneset, goldenrod, thoroughwort, milkweeds
Trees or shrubs: Maple, Eastern Redbud, Sourwood, Elderberry, blueberries, Sassafras,
Buttonbush, wild roses, willows
Grass substitutes: native strawberries, white clover, violets, dandelions
VI. Pollinator Magnets
Coneflower (Echinacea); Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia); Blanket flowers (Gaillardia); Zinnias; Lantanas; Wild columbine; Milkweeds; Sweet William, Aster, Phlox, Bergamont, Lupine, False Blue Indigo; sunflowers, native lilies, bee balm, sage, petunias, marigolds & many more. Especially for hummingbirds: Threadleaf giant hyssop in the mint family called Apache Sunset.
VII. Resources
http://fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/syndromes.shtml
www.se-eppc.org/pubs/tnalt.pdf
www.whywastegarbage.com/blog - articles about replacing lawns, pollinators and plants
https://www.almanac.com/grass-alternatives-lawn-replacements
https://www.countryliving.com/gardening/g32157369/flowers-that-attract-bees/
https://www.housedigest.com/2188419/not-salvia-not-bee-balm-agastache-rupestris-attract-hummingbirds/