I started playing through Dark Souls II again. This game has never made sense to me. I figured I’d record the adventure in comic form in hopes of explaining it. Also, it’s in Paint and I put no effort into it.
I’ve recently read a few articles about converting lawns from Kentucky Blue Grass colonies into native species pollinator gardens. I got inspired to turn a section of weeds in my backyard into just such a thing. Here’s a mini tutorial of the process that may prove helpful, or at the very least, inspiring. It doesn’t take much to make a difference.
1. Dig up the weeds/grass by taking an entire shovel full of earth with the weeds. Shake out the soil and keep it separate. Put the weed foliage and root systems into another pile. This will greatly reduce the weeding requirements of the pollinator garden.
(Note: The amount of sunlight and soil quality should be considered when choosing an appropriate spot for planting. Most flowers perfer full sun to partial shade. Native species are fairly hardy once they have become established. Do not get discouraged!)
2. Put the weeds in a different pile than your normal compost, especially any roots and seeds. You don’t want to be spreading these the next time you use your compost.
(Note: You can trash the weeds if you want. I let mine decompose/fry in the sun and then use them eventually once they're good and dead, and all of the weed seeds have already germinated.)
3. Once the entire area has been cleared of weeds, you can put the soil back and then rake it into an even surface.
4. Next, take a beer and cheese break. Maybe even nap in the sun if you’re hungover.
5. If you have some soil ammendment, like compost or decomposed manure, add that jazz too.
6. Sow your native flower seeds. I like to put the same species in a cluster, so that when they mature, pollinators don’t have to go far to look for more flowers. I should clarify that bees tend to stick to the same species while collecting pollen. Less work for the wee bums.
(Note: It is difficult to sow wild seed, so I just broadcasted it in the area I wanted, patted it down a little, and tried to cover it with a little soil. Basically, you don’t want them to blow away or get displaced when watering. Fancy rows are acceptable too.)
7. Water the seeds! Try not to displace them too much in the process. I used collected rain water because I’m so cool.
8. If you’re planting plugs instead of seeds, I recommend putting some soaker hose in for irrigation. Lay it directly on the soil in close proximity to the plants.
9. Put mulch over the soaker hose and any exposed soil. This will retain moisture and greatly reduce the amount of water you’re using. Always remember to water first thing in the morning or once it gets cool in the evening.
10. You can use sticks to wattle a fence around the flower bed. This should keep pesky golden retrievers out.
I’ve never planted native species from seed, so I’m experimenting with the following flower types:
Prairie Coneflower
Wild blue flax
Stiff Goldenrod
Gaillardia
Smooth Aster
Bergamot
Giant Hyssop
I’m also planting in August instead of the spring. Hopefully they’ll germinate and develop a root system before the first frost.
Don’t forget to read your city bylaws regarding lawn heights and usage. Good luck restoring native species!
These are the links that inspired me initially:
There's high demand for a new program to encourage Minnesota homeowners to replace part of their lawn with native plants that provide food a
A River Heights family says Winnipeg bylaw officers have overstepped reason by demanding they mow down tall grass, nettles and wildflowers g
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