Looking to replace front lawn with something more friendly to pollinators, less awful than grass. Anybody with experience, please share.
@aardrian You know, I think that's only about two-thirds accurate, although the worst lawn culture is even more damaging than they imply.
Grasses and grazers co-evolved when global climate got drier; what grasses are Really Good At is (a) surviving dry seasons and (b) surviving being trampled and also cut off just above ground level. So grass and its niche-sharers are *great* at being a live cover where a lot of people want to be outdoors.
@clew Neither of those two apply to my distaste and my desire to replace my front lawn. I also don’t think noting where grass benefits us was in the scope of the piece, but yeah, better for picnics than brambles and ferns.
@aardrian
If you don't need to walk on it, mixed perennial herbaceous borders are the lowest effort and best for pollinators. Check out what the Xerces Society recommends for your biome.
To be able to run around and loll on it, add tiny clover and maybe chamomile or daisies, and mow it high and often and with a sharp blade. Don't fertilize; the clover is enough. Don't water it in summer. Dry grass is still cool to the feet and the growing points aren't dead, they're waiting for the rain.
@clew Thanks! I had not heard of Xerces Society. Have pulled down the PDF for my region.
A little confirmation on how pointless lawns are, from history: https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/anthropology-in-practice/the-american-obsession-with-lawns/