Why Change your Lawn to a Na1ve Meadow • Less water – For the first two years, 1/2 of normal water – A9er that, can be more like 1/6
• Less maintenance – Cut grasses and perennials once per year
• Insects love it • Sense of place • It’s preHy
How to Change from a Lawn to a Na1ve Meadow The first step is to develop an appropriate plant list depending on your site and your aestheJc desires. – Exposure (sun, part‐sun, shade) – Drainage (heavy clay, amended dirt, rocky soil) – Func1on (able to walk on, something to walk by or look at) – Aesthe1cs (formal, managed meadow, wild) – Diversity (one/two types of plants or something for every season) – Locality (locally naJve plants, CA naJve plants from other regions)
How to Change from a Lawn to a Na1ve Meadow Several different approaches that range in cost and effort. Following are the basic steps: 1. Remove exisJng material • •
Sod cuHer Sheet mulch
2. Add soil/compost if needed 3. Plant grass plugs, perennials or naJve sod (Fall/Winter is best) 4. Cast wildflower seed (opJonal) 5. Mulch (not on seeded areas) 6. Water 7. Weed 8. Cut/mow (as desired)
Various Op1ons Highest cost Step 1
Na1ve Sod Remove exisJng material
2 3/4
Install naJve sod
5
6
Plugs
Seed
Remove exisJng material or sheet mulch with cardboard/ newspaper and woodchips
Remove exisJng material
If old lawn removed, add soil/ compost
Add soil/compost
Plant plugs and perennials, sow Sow grass and wildflower wildflower seeds seeds, plant small perennials. Sow some seeds in flats to compare with site seedlings Mulch (if haven’t sheet mulched); do not mulch on areas with wildflower seed
Water
7 8
Lowest cost
Cut/mow as desired
Water
Water
Weed any unmulched areas
Weed
Cut/mow as desired
Cut/mow as desired
General Lessons Learned • Use plugs and mulch if you don’t want to weed weekly • Choose more than one type of grass as they will self select over Jme • Take care on choosing the grasses and perennials as these will be the main structures. Wildflowers are the accessories • Try to use locally naJve plants • Enjoy the changing colors, smells and sights
Na1ve Grasses for Meadows The following table lists local naJve grasses and their ideal exposure and drainage needs. Grass, height
Exposure, Soil
Sunny, Good Sunny, Poor Shady, Good Shady, Poor Drainage Drainage Drainage Drainage