Imagine a front yard that is thin and patchy, always asking for more water and attention. Now imagine fixing it with old cardboard. The front-yard transformation was shared on YouTube by the person behind Food Forest Florida, who showed how a normal lawn had been transformed into what he called a Florida-friendly native pollinator garden.
That’s what one Florida homeowner did, according to The Cool Down .
With the base laid, the space began to take shape. Curving stone walkways and edging were put in, followed by a mixture of native and naturalized plants intended to attract birds and pollinators. Edible plants were part of the plan too.
The Food Forest Florida creator said the garden is designed to provide food for animals as well as for people. The design was also modeled after a low-maintenance Florida oak hammock, a type of hardwood forest in the state, the creator said. One commenter said they have a love-hate relationship with grass and have been replacing it piece by piece with new beds. Another said they wished more people would replace monoculture lawns.
In a 2018 PNAS study , researchers studied Carolina chickadees in yards throughout the Washington, D.C. area. Authors Desirée Narango, Douglas Tallamy, and Peter Marra found that chickadee populations could only be sustained in yards where more than 70 percent of plant biomass was native. Put another way, nonnative plants had to make up less than 30 percent.
The Cool Down notes that native plants are often more compatible with local soil and weather , which can result in less watering, less maintenance, and lower costs in the long run. They also provide habitat for pollinators and birds. The bird claim is supported by research. Biomass is the total sum of plant material. The study only looked at one bird species in one region, so it can’t predict what will happen in every yard. But it does show that what plants are chosen can affect the food available for wildlife. Lawn replacement does not have to be all or nothing. The Florida makeover shows that it can be done in phases. Even replacing part of a lawn can save homeowners money and reclaim time. Homeowners could start with a curb strip, a corner bed, or a space around trees. Alternatives include native plants, clover, buffalo grass, or xeriscaping, depending on the region. This can reduce constant maintenance while making a yard more resilient. Whatever you do, start small, be patient, and see who shows up.
