One flowering tree can provide as much nectar and pollen as an entire garden. Fruiting shrubs and trees offer multiple other benefits to our yards: habitat, shade, height and structure, food for people and other wildlife, and seasonal interest throughout the year. Large trees can even intercept hundreds of gallons of rain before it becomes…
Pocket Plantings are a great way to introduce biodiversity in your yard. Starting small makes the project more manageable. It’s also easier to care for your garden as it establishes.… Read More →
Lawns to Legumes Individual Support Cost Share Grantees For grantees who are requesting reimbursement, click here to go to the grantee reimbursement page. Self-Installed Pollinator Habitat (not funded by Lawns to Legumes) Fill out the form below, selecting the appropriate “No” answer to the first question, and get your planting on the map. You may…
Minnesota residents are eligible to apply for Lawns to Legumes cost-share funding of up to $400 to create pollinator habitat in their yards. The application deadline for the Fall 2024 Lawns to Legumes Individual Support program is May 15, 2024. Grant recipients will be notified in late May. Lawns to Legumes is no longer rolling over…
What is Low Maintenance Turf? Low maintenance turf functions as a typical lawn but is made up of species that require less water, fertilizers, pesticides, and mowing than Kentucky bluegrass. Most low maintenance lawns are a mix of fine and/or tall fescues, both cool-season grasses that are shade and drought-tolerant. The benefits of fescues include:…
What is Perennial Ground Cover? With a diverse matrix of native grasses and forbs, perennial ground cover can be adapted to almost any growing condition. It can be low-growing if desired. Why should I plant Perennial Ground Cover? Converting lawn into perennial ground cover offers the maximum ecological impact. In theory, you could turn your…
What is a Pollinator Lawn? Bee lawns are made of a tight mix of grasses and low-growing perennials that can be used and treated much like a regular lawn but also offer high-quality nutrition to pollinators. Why should I plant a Pollinator Lawn? Pollinator populations have been declining in part due to habitat loss, pesticide…
Do you have areas in your yard where grass doesn’t want to grow? A native garden may be the solution.
To become a Blue Thumb Partner, please download and read through the 2024 Partner Agreement. Then submit the form below.
Our Blue Thumb Partners are a collection of public organizations and private companies committed to funding, designing, creating, maintaining and teaching about landscapes that contribute to a healthy ecosystem and… Read More →
