How to Create a Pollinator Lawn

To successfully create a pollinator grass, evaluate the area, choose how much from the site and select and install the appropriate plants to attract bees and other beneficial insects to your patio.

Polynizing Céspedes are ecological and low maintenance, a perfect option for owners who seek to reduce the expenses related to the grass. In addition, we interviewed a specialist who provided useful advice to create his pollinating grass.

Note: We will use the «lawn of bees» and the «grass of pollinators» indistinctly, but we will focus on creating Céspedes for all pollinators, not just bees, in this article.

Step 1. Evaluate the area

The first step is to take a look at the current conditions of the site:

• Sun exposure: Polinizer plants generally prefer sunny sites.
• Rain: Choosing a place that rains enough means less supplementary water.
• Existing turf: Depending on the health of your existing grass, it could be better to renew instead of supervising.
• Traffic: Polynizing Céspedes are ideal in points without traffic or very low traffic.
• PH of the ground: Perform a soil test to discover the conditions of your soil.

Note: If you live in a HOA, consult your association before planting.

Hire One of our landscaping professionals to evaluate the area and turn your grass into a paradise of pollinators.

Step 2. Choose your conversion method

You don’t have to turn your entire patio so that your space is more friendly to the pollinizer. Here are 3 approaches to convert your grass (or part of it) to a pollinating grass:

Gradual transition

You can gradually make your grass to a grass of pollinators following these steps:

Sectional conversion

If you want to «try things» before completely converting your grass into a pollinator grass, select a small area and turn this section only.

• Choose a place with a lot of sunlight. It can be a section of your rear patio, around the base of your home, a slope or anywhere that seems.
• Use rocks, wood or fencing To define the edges.
• Add bushes, trees and The perennial plants enjoy the pollinators.

If the existing grass is in good condition with few weeds, simply supervision with the native grass or the roof seed of the soil in flower.

Complete renovations

Complete renovations are a good option for the grass that overcome unwanted weeds, have too many naked patches or have structural problems (compacted soil or inequality). You can use one of these 4 methods to kill existing grass:

• Solarization: Extend a transparent plastic canvas over the area so that the heat accumulates, killing the plants. It works only in warmer weather and takes 2 to 3 weeks in the summer.
• Mulching of the sheet: If you live in a colder area, where solarization will not work, try the padding of the leaf. It consists of using a cardboard sheet to quell unwanted grass.
• Physical extraction: You can also use a grass cutter or a grass kicking to eliminate the grass. However, this method can also eliminate the desirable organic matter of its soil.
• Herbicides: The use of herbicides is faster than solarization and easier than physically eliminating sod. Opt for organic herbicides for a more ecological option.

Step 3. Select the correct plants

If you are a beginner, you can start using mixtures of pollinator seeds commonly sold in local nurseries. James Wolfin, a conservation specialist at Twin City Seed Company, highlights the importance of being native: «Native plants have a deep evolutionary history with our native pollinators. Some specialist species will only feed on selected native plants.»

However, as Wolfin explains, there are limited options for native plants for pollinators grass. Due to this, it proposes to prioritize native plants while incorporating non -native species that are beneficial for pollinators.

Here are some recommended planting rates for the grass of pollinators:

The best time to establish the bee grass is at the end of autumn in the northern states (the inactive planting works best); Plant at the beginning of spring in the southern states.

Step 4. Install the grass of your pollinizer

If you have chosen to kill the grass and start from naked ground, you can still have a job to do.

As Wolfin explains, “A bees -cut requires 3 weeks of hard work for years easy [care] thereafter.»

Professional Council: These soil preparation steps are the same as to plant herb seeds.

To install your pollinating grass:

• Extend the seeds with a fertilizer disseminator.
• If sown in spring, rake them on the ground and water slightly 2 to 3 times a day during the first 3 weeks (or until you see the seedlings sprouting).

Wolfin says: «Be patient. Flowers take the time to establish. The clover will probably be established in year 1, but it is likely that the other flowers flourish in the year 2 and beyond.»

If you are a more visual apprentice, watch this video on how to grow your pollinators grass before dirtying your hands:

Frequent questions

When to call a professional

If you lack confidence or you simply want to spend time and effort creating a pollinating grass yourself, contact a landscaping professional. Lawstarter has trusted professionals and experienced who are eager to help. Contact today.

See related: Can not Mow «support pollinators?

Main image credit: Anna Hoychuk / Adobe stock

Teresa Joaquim

Teresa is an enthusiast of the plant and creative writer who has been writing for Lawstarter for years, using her background in research to write about the care of the grass and everything green. A proud mother of two rescued cats also has a special love for animals.