How to Create a “bee Lawn” (and Why You Should Do It)
Traditional lawns — like the ones that require you to dig up a piece of land, kill off any plants, and then plant and grow a uniform grass that society demands some care for — aren’t the only option for your yard. (For more information, read Lifehacker writer A. A. Newton’s September explanation of Lawn .)
One such option is what is known as a “bee lawn” which has the elements of a traditional lawn but is better for the environment (including the bees). Here’s what you need to know and how to grow it.
What is a “bee patch”?
We need bees to pollinate our plants and crops, including most of the food we eat, so it’s in our best interest to keep them around. And one way to do that is to plant and care for a bee lawn, which is a combination of low-growing flowers and lawn grasses, according to the Horticultural Society of Minnesota .
Yes, some of these low-growing flowering plants are what we used to think of as “weeds,” so if there’s a lawn traditionalist in your home or neighborhood, they might not be thrilled with your bee lawn (even if they’re extracting from this benefit).
But it’s still up to you to take care of your lawn, and that may include mowing it as usual. In fact, the Minnesota Horticultural Society states that the ideal lawn height for bees is three inches. Everything, including flowering plants, will grow back.
And bee lawns are not only a win for the bees; Here is a summary of some of their other benefits :
- Requires less water and fertilizer than traditional lawns
- Less frequent mowing required
- Better suited for surviving periods of drought or flood
- Pesticides are not used
- Looks green most of the season (there are flowers at other times)
- Provide feeding and nesting areas for insects
- Improves the condition of your soil
- Low cost (especially in maintenance)
- No gardening skills required
How to start a bee lawn
Creating a bee lawn isn’t difficult, but you need to know what you’re doing to make it work, starting with selecting plants that are ready to go.
The Best Plants for a Bee Lawn
Most bee lawns are made up of a mixture of flowering plants and lawn grasses (which thrive when constantly mowed and stepped on). While bees are not overly picky about their pollen, there are certain flowering plants that are better suited to bee lawns than others. According to the University of Minnesota (UME), bee lawn plants should be as follows:
- Perennials (meaning they grow back year after year)
- undersized
- Can adapt to haircut
- Flower at low altitude
- Tolerance for foot traffic (and children playing and everything that happens on your lawn)
- A good source of nectar and pollen for pollinators.
- Moderately competitive (meaning they can hold onto turf grasses without taking over)
Here are some examples of flowering plants that work well in bee lawns :
- white clover
- self-healing
- creeping thyme
- ground plum
- Lanceleaf tick
- calico american aster
For turf grasses, UME experts recommend using a fine fescue mix (standard perennial turf grasses) that includes:
- Fescue red creeping strong
- Fescue red slender creeping
- Fescue chewing
- Fescue hard
- Sheep fescue
While technically Kentucky bluegrass would also work for a bee lawn, it needs more fertilizer and water than fine fescue, making it more productive and less environmentally friendly.
Planting a bee lawn
Once you’ve chosen your plants and know where the bee lawn will go , it’s time to get ready and plant. UME experts say that the best time to create a bee lawn is spring and late autumn.
There are two methods of turning land into a bee lawn – overseeding and renewing – and your decision should be based on what is currently growing in your yard. UME has several detailed guides for creating a bee lawn (including step-by-step instructions), but here are some general tips on when to best choose each method:
- If your lawn is healthy and has relatively few weeds
Repair recommended:
- If your lawn has mostly “bad” weeds that are not suitable for pollinators
- It has several bare spots
- Requires roughness correction, compaction or grading.
If you could go anyway, overseeding is less work than repair.
Life with a bee lawn
Use UME’s explanations and instructions to walk you through the preparation and seeding processes. Then be patient. In the first year, your bee lawn will likely consist of mostly turf grass, with the addition of foliage from flowering plants and perhaps a few white clover flowers. The second year is really good, with more foliage and flowers and the pollinators they need to attract.
If you like, you can also hang a sign in your yard stating that you have an apiary. This can be a way to proactively answer any questions and resolve any neighbors concerns about why your lawn looks different than others on the block, as well as raise awareness of bee lawns in general—perhaps by encouraging other people to plant their own (or at least take a look at it).
The University of Minnesota has several bee lawn signs that you can download and print, as does the US Forest Service (including a sign that says “Lazy Lawn Mower Warning” ).