Nature Guys recorded this in front of an audience at the Civic Garden Center’s Fall Native Plant Festival. Bob welcomes Greg Torres and Sam Settlemyre to discuss why and how we should reduce our lawns.
Related episode: The Nature of Oaks with Doug Tallamy
Resources:
- Homegrown National Park (Doug Tallamy)
- Civic Garden Center of Greater Cincinnati
- Garden centers with native plants in Greater Cincinnati
This is something that has been on my mind a lot lately. I’ve never used chemicals although I know that I get overspray from the fields around me. I have always let parts of my lawn grow up and I have enjoyed the wildflowers that grow as well as a large a population of praying mantises and many other insects, rabbits, deer, birds, etc. Recently I have been thinking about planting grasses that are more native. The location where I built my house was the corner of a farm field and I have never seeded it properly. I am fortunate that my county has a “conservation district” organization that sells native plants and trees in the spring and the fall every year. It now seems strange to me that the people who will tell me to be more environmentally friendly will also pour chemicals on their lawns and mow at least once a week. I have recently started telling people who complain about not seeing butterflies, walking sticks or mantises to let a corner of their yard grow up and stop using chemicals. Anyway, thanks for the great podcast!
Jenny it is so great that you are talking with people and suggesting they let a part of their lawn grow up!