Region
Southern MN
City
New Ulm
Project Type(s)
Pocket Planting, Native Trees and Shrubs
Template(s) Used
Sunny and Low Garden for Pollinators (BWSR)
Site Conditions
Full Sun
Gardener Name
Shannon B
Gardener Comments
After years of weeds taking over our side front lawn I decided to apply for a grant to positively change our front lawn. I mechanically removed the weeds and grass for half of the side yard. We brought in fresh dirt and planted 160 plugs of sun- loving grasses and flowers in mid June, then covered with plain mulch. The soil is clay and had so many weeds you could not find the grass. In August I tried the solarization method to rid the rest of the side yard of weeds. 4 weeks later I planted low mow fescue grass seed.
I learned that mechanically removing sod is a very difficult physical task and that I liked the solarization process much better. However it did make our yard look shabby for 4 or more weeks while I tried to kill off the weeds and existing grass. I also learned I should have given myself more time for this process because weeds did show up in the Spring but not as many as with the mechanical removal process. I also learned that it can be difficult to find a native pollinator nursery and recommend prairie restoration in Central Minnesota because I found everything I needed there. I checked out a few native pollinator garden books from our local library and found them very helpful for selecting the right kind of plants for our soil and sun.
I have enjoyed this project immensely and even more that the hard work is done! I love that native pollinators are better for the Earth, they are drought tolerant and they’re good for my soil. I will definitely plant a pollinator garden in any future yard.
Wildlife Observed
I definitely see butterflies and bees on a regular basis at our pollinator garden and expect to see more as the flowers blossom in the next few weeks. I tried to plant flowers that were not attractive to deer or rabbits.
