MAY 28, 2019
by Dean
Fosdick
Flowering
"bee lawns" that attract pollinators are a compromise between
fastidious turf management and the more casual yard approach. They add
biodiversity to the landscape and need less maintenance. That makes them
cost-effective, too.
Bee lawns
are turf grasses blended with low-growing perennials that bloom again after
mowing. They're cared for like typical lawns, making them comfortable for
playing and lounging. But they also contain protein-rich ingredients providing
vital nutrients for foraging pollinators.
Their
natural diversity—they might contain fine fescues mixed with such spontaneous
plants as white clover, dandelions (that bloom early when little else is
flowering), creeping thyme, daisies and shade-tolerant lamium—make them less
demanding and more resilient than Kentucky bluegrass. Bee lawns require minimal
watering and little fertilizing, encourage deeper roots and build healthier
soil—especially when their clippings are returned to the turf.
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