Backyard Conservation
A native mason bee (Osmia sp.) visiting Dutch white clover (Trifolium repens). Photo: Marirose Kuhlman
Flowering Pollinator Lawn
What is a Flowering Pollinator Lawn?
Lawns are ubiquitous in American urban and suburban life and provide a comfortable space for outdoor activities with family and friends. They can offer a cooler respite from the heat of surrounding roads and parking lots, they can absorb excess water, and can help prevent soil erosion. However, traditional lawns are also resource-intensive, consuming significant amounts of water, fertilizer, pesticides, and time. They usually consist of a single grass species and have negligible habitat value for beneficial insect pollinators or wildlife.
To balance aesthetics with sustainability, consider a Flowering Pollinator Lawn! This option mixes traditional turf grasses with low-growing, flowering plants that benefit pollinators, such as white clover, creeping thyme, self-heal, or yarrow. Flowering Pollinator lawns are more resilient to pests and drought, require less water and maintenance, and support pollinators. Once established, a Flowering Pollinator Lawn needs less water, no fertilizer, and can be mowed less frequently - around every 2-3 weeks - and is kept at a height of at least 3 inches to allow flowering.
Practical Considerations for a Flowering Pollinator Lawn
To grow a Flowering Pollinator Lawn, consider planting in areas of your yard that receive light to moderate use, like a boulevard strip, front yard, or side yard. Avoid high-use zones where pets or children play; since you're planting flowers for bees and butterflies, it's a good idea to give them space to forage in peace. Flowering Pollinator Lawns can be planted wherever grass grows, so if you have problematic areas of your yard without grass it's also not likely to grow a successful bee lawn.
Helping pollinators and enjoying them, too!
A Flowering Pollinator Lawn can attract many different species of bees, butterflies, and other pollinators to your yard, making it a safe place for these important insects. While they are not optimal pollinator habitats on their own, they do contribute to pollinator health and offer a low-maintenance, attractive lawn option. Consult with a Department of Ecology agent to see if a Flowering Pollinator Lawn suits your needs!
For information and research on flowering pollinator lawns, visit the University of Minnesota Extension website
