Growing a Lawn that is Better for Wildlife

Transform your manicured lawn into a nature oasis - not only will you increase its aesthetic appeal, but you can also help out pollinators and other wildlife! Even small changes like adding plants or shrubs that attract beneficial insects can make an immense difference. Or, go all-out with a full-scale remodel to truly impress the neighbours.

Gardens are fundamentally important for the natural world; they cover an area even more expansive than all of the UK's National Nature Reserves combined. Also, lawns act as a haven for wildlife such as beetles and other insects, along with worms, which attract birds like starlings to feed on the invertebrates that hide below. Furthermore, gardens help rainwater drain away quickly.

If you're tired of constantly maintaining a traditional turf lawn, making some modifications will bring more wildlife to your garden and make it better equipped for heavier rainfalls or droughts. Furthermore, you'll be able to enjoy new sights and smells! These changes mean less mowing for you, so why not give yourself a break?

Step back from the lawnmower and let nature run its course; if you give your entire or partial garden a break from regular maintenance, local wildlife will thank you! Allowing plants already present to flourish for a month or season can turn your yard into an inviting habitat.

Clover

Clover, which was once included in lawn seed packets, can often already be found on your property, as well as other seeds that have been blown or dropped by birds. Daisies, speedwells, selfheals, buttercups and cowslips are just some of the varieties you might come across!

Blooming plants can draw in a variety of pollinators, such as bees, butterflies, and beetles with their sweet nectar and pollen. Meanwhile, taller grasses provide shelter for wildlife like frogs, newts, hedgehogs, and lizards to find food nearby.

Sylvia Myers, an ecologist from the Museum, urges us not to overlook the value of existing plants in our lawns. She further states that it is a wise move to let them grow and observe what sprouts up before starting any meadow renovation or creation plans.

Witness the beauty of nature in your garden! Dandelions, yarrow, and buttercups are just a few flowers that provide nourishment for pollinators. However, observe closely which blooms get visited by insects--not all have the same preferences!

Daisy

Bees love clover

Red clover blossoms are favoured by the carder bee, red-tailed bumblebee, and a variety of other long-tongued bumblebees. Moreover, domesticated honeybees love them just as much—if not more—than white clover!

Red Clover

To maintain healthy grass, it's best to mow short plants like clover with your blade set at around seven centimetres. However, by cutting less frequently, you will allow them to bloom and feed pollinators!

Clover is a great tool for keeping pesky weeds away and making your lawn more drought-resistant. Furthermore, it adds valuable nitrogen to the soil; so be sure to compost grass cuttings!

When you come across a wildflower, is it really a weed? Not necessarily! Certain species are believed to be weeds due to their capacity for reproduction and spread. Nonetheless, they can offer great value as pollinators by providing nectar or pollen for bees and other insects — such as bird's-foot trefoil, lesser celandine, and selfheal.

Fred Rumsey, an esteemed museum botanist, encourages gardeners to evaluate their spaces critically. He asks us to consider the potential threats posed by certain plants and animals as well as discover ways in which we can learn from nature: how can we admire our space as much as its native inhabitants do?

To reach true harmony amongst creatures great and small, he suggests that we allot unaltered spaces for wildlife within our gardens and take pleasure in recognizing distinctive species so that biodiversity is carefully preserved.

Give your tree a border

For your lawn, why not create a vibrant border around the tree using grass and various eye-catching flower bulbs? Plant native varieties of daffodils, bluebells, crocuses, snake's head fritillaries, and snowdrops to bring life and colour to the area. The result will be stunning!

Daffodils

Looking for something to add some cheer and beauty to your shady spots in the spring? Look no further than these captivating blooms! Not only do they bring a splash of colour, but they are also invaluable sources of nectar for emerging bumblebee queens, as well as other species such as the hairy-footed flower bee. Some great choices include wood anemones, winter aconites, and alliums.

Anemones

Additionally, you can find wildflower seed mixes labelled "woodland" or "hedgerow mix" that grow under trees. Add these lovely flowers today to enjoy their vivid hues and benefit nature at the same time!

Turn your lawn into a wildflower meadow

If you wish to have a more diverse display of wildflowers, add some plants for additional beauty. Consider adding common knapweed, red clover, musk mallow, and other pollinator-friendly flowers like field scabious, teasel, or cowslip; these are resilient against grass growth! Add in viper's bugloss, thrift, and oxeye daisy, as well as meadow cranesbill and betony to get the most dramatic results.

Knapweed

Not only do these plants provide nourishing nectar, but they are also the preferred food source for many butterflies. Thankfully, wildflower meadow mixes can easily be purchased from a range of suppliers—just make sure to pick one that guarantees their seeds are native British species so you don't end up with any harmful varieties unexpectedly appearing! Don't forget about wildflower lawn mixtures either; perfect for reseeding bare patches of soil and bringing life back into barren spaces.

It's surprisingly simple to develop a miniature wildflower meadow, especially if you utilize plant plugs and install them in the ground during springtime. Gardener's World has helpful advice on this technique.

If you're hoping to have a thriving wildflower lawn, your best bet is to prepare the ground and sow seeds in the autumn. It's totally worth it — for tips on how you can successfully create one yourself, head over to the Wildlife Trust or RSPB websites! Alternatively, if you'd like an easy solution that requires minimal effort, simply scatter some seeds throughout your lawn; however, with this method success isn't always guaranteed.

Add variety to your grass

The ordinary lawn typically has a small selection of grass types, as these are equipped to handle regular mowing, everyday use, and periods of drought. However, the UK is home to an extensive array of native grasses. When left unclipped and undisturbed, they produce beautiful blooms and seeds that benefit many creatures like bees and birds.

Grasses can bring life, structure, and a splash of colour to your garden. If you're seeking new ways to liven up your lawn, consider sowing some wildflower seed mix filled with native grasses for added diversity. Allow the grasses enough time to blossom by letting them develop naturally.

When to cut a wildflower lawn

To achieve an optimal wildflower meadow and prevent grasses from dominating, striking a balance is key. Native flowers and grasses can both be beneficial; it is all about finding the right equilibrium.

For the first year of establishing your mini-meadow, mow regularly at a height of seven centimetres every six to eight weeks. By controlling hardy species, this strategy will help to enhance the strong root growth of any perennial flowers.

To ensure a plentiful harvest of wildflowers, wait until September or mid-July to mow your lawn. Cut the grass to a few centimetres in height so that it allows the flowers to produce seeds before being cut down. However, you can start cutting as early as April if necessary.

After you cut the lawn, leave the grass to settle for a few days to let any seeds that have dropped fall. Subsequently, rake up and dispose of all clippings so as not to add unnecessary nutrients to your soil.

Don't fertilise your lawn

To introduce an array of wildflowers to your lawn, refrain from adding fertilizers, manure, or compost which encourages excessive grass growth. Instead, ensure that the soil is rich in essential nutrients for optimal blooming!

Consider including a yellow rattle

Are you looking to see your wildflowers flourish and thrive? Adding Rhinanthus minor, otherwise known as yellow rattle, is a surefire way to achieve this! Not only does it weaken the grasses that may stifle growth for the flowers, but it is also wildly popular among bees and other insects. See results in no time with just one addition! Create thyme and chamomile lawns.

Yellow Wrattle

Transform your garden with a lush thyme lawn - it's vibrant and fragrant, easy to look after even during droughts, and can handle some foot traffic. Just make sure the area is well-drained; thyme doesn't like soggy soil!

To ensure a healthy garden, it is essential to eliminate weeds before planting your seeds or plants. To make this process easier, you can cover the area with an old carpet or black plastic for several weeks before seeding. This will help prevent weeds from sprouting and allow more time to grow the desired vegetation!

Chamomile is a stress-free herb to grow. When crushed, it has an apple-like scent that was used in Elizabethan times for lawns and seats. It's ideal for sunny spots with minimal foot traffic and thrives best on sandy soil which isn't excessively dry or wet. If you're looking for a cost-effective way to get started quickly, simply spread the contents of tea bags over your garden! To maintain this beautiful lawn throughout the season, remember to mow off any dead flower heads at its conclusion.

Chamomile

Avoid lawn treatments

To help protect the environment, one of the simplest adjustments you can make is to stay away from weed killers. This will not only safeguard pollinating insects that depend on plants for food, but it may also safeguard wildlife itself. If a quick-growing plant like thistle, nettle, or dock is located in your yard, try to uproot it rather than kill it off with herbicides.

Say no to pesticides

To protect honeybees and wild bees, refrain from purchasing plants, bulbs, seeds, or compost that contain pesticides or insecticides like neonicotinoids (a.k.a. neonics). Neonics are heavily correlated with mass bee deaths and should be avoided at all costs for the sake of our environment.

While certain chemicals are designed to combat "pest species," they can also have adverse effects on other invertebrates, helpful bugs, and bigger animals. A 2017 study discovered that many plants labelled as being friendly for pollinators contain large amounts of pesticides, such as neonicotinoids.

To make your garden more natural and beneficial for wildlife, opt for organic gardening materials from a reputable local nursery or farmers' market. You could also exchange plants and bulbs with friends! When you attract birds, hoverflies, parasitic wasps, etc., to your yard by creating an inviting environment, naturally-occurring predators will help keep pesky pests at bay.

Before you choose to use toxic chemicals and slug pellets, consider alternative treatments that may be just as effective. A simple solution like spraying water mixed with washing-up liquid on plants swarming with aphids is a great way to naturally reduce their population. Wrapping serrated copper tape around valuable pot plants can also help keep slugs and snails at bay while leaving the natural predators of these pests (e.g., hedgehogs) unharmed!

Should I get rid of moss?

Frequently considered an unwelcome intruder, moss is actually beneficial to many wildlife species by providing food and shelter for invertebrates. Moss is the perfect choice for those facing issues with unsightly bare patches; it can grow in virtually any environment and quickly fill them with lush, vibrant green. Moss lawns have been used for centuries in Japan and require no maintenance or mowing - making them an ideal option to provide your outdoor space with a spectacular makeover!

Not only do larger animals benefit from the surplus food, but birds also rely on mosses for their nests.

What else should I think about?

Do you want to take a stroll through your lawn? Creating an attractive mowed path is one option, or you could section off your meadow to keep walking areas separate.

If you have toddlers running around, a bee-attracting meadow covering your entire lawn may not be the most attractive choice; why settle for that when you can create patches of wildflowers at the edges to bring colour and style?

Meadow Mix

Before bringing children or pets into your garden, make sure to check for poisonous species. The Royal Horticultural Society has created a detailed list of potentially harmful plants that can be useful. Additionally, try mowing less often to save on water usage; any brown patches will eventually recover in due time as well!

If you are still hesitant to fully revamp your lawn, why not start small and try edging out some of the outer regions? Make those borders expansive, and populate them with beautiful wildflowers. That way, even a simple transformation can make an enormous difference!