I have a lawn, but I don’t leaf blow, water or strive to have perfect grass.
Can I keep my lawn that the bees, insects and wildlife love? |
I have a battery-powered leaf blower. Haven’t used a gas one in years. |
What did you plant to support native bugs, and where did you buy it? |
We leave our leaves on the yard. The bagging and blowing of leaves is insane on so many levels. I don’t think the leaf blowers are the root problem tho — the problem is often HOA rules and a dated idea of “lawn.” We can work to challenge both. |
We rake. We turn it into a competition. |
Thanks for posting this, OP.
I heartily agree with you! We used to rake. Then we just mowed over everything. I love our lawn. It has clover in it, and various grasses and weeds and sunny dandelions. Bunnies come over for their clover dinner. I wouldn't trade it in for a single varietal lawn, ever. |
Not the poster you're talking to, but it depends on what bugs you're trying to attract. In order to rebuild the butterfly population, you'll need to plant milkweed. It's the only plant that supports caterpillars. It's past milkweed season and I haven't been able to find any for planting now. It's easy to start a pollinator garden by throwing down seeds you can get at any decent garden store. Also, don't blow the leaves in your garden area. Insects need the leaf protection to make it through the winter. |
It’s the only plant that supports monarchs. Oaks support several caterpillars. There are native plant stores all around the dmv. I hired a native plant landscaper. |
Putting leaves in plastic bags is astounding. It’s America in a nutshell. |
True. |
Also, and this needs its own thread, but you must stop using Mosquito Joe and try to get your neighbors to quit. MJ is killing all the bugs, not just the mosquitos. |
Yes, but if you're pulling out invasive plants, put them in plastic and throw them away. Do not put them in your yard waste bags for collection. |
Idiotic, pointless, and obscenely wasteful? Haha yes, it is. |
Plus food disposal in the kitchen. |