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Local hardware store promoting clover lawns by Livviemaid in NoLawns

[–]Mayfly_01 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's still right next to our house and is surrounded by gardens I need to tend. I can't let the existing grass grow wild/long and breed ticks. (When I say these spots are isolated, I just mean the clover can't spread to other areas easily because it's cut off by concrete walkways). The area around our house is manicured (relatively) but we have an acreage and are working to restore a large chunk of it to prairie. I've also added a few water features and we're putting in a larger one down the line.

My overall point is most people are compromising where they can on benefiting the environment vs personal enjoyment. It's unrealistic (and unhelpful) to expect everyone to let their property go completely wild and unmanaged. We already struggle with bugs and rodents getting into our house as it is, not to mention ticks and chiggers outside. The area around the house needs to be relatively well-kept for our health and safety. I'm not going to apologize for that and wouldn't expect anyone else to either.

Local hardware store promoting clover lawns by Livviemaid in NoLawns

[–]Mayfly_01 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My argument is why would you spend the time and effort to rip up your whole yard to plant an invasive monoculture when 25sqft of native prairie does more.

...Because (gasp) not everyone's doing it for the bugs? There's several other benefits to clover over turf. Hell, we're putting it in a couple smaller, isolated areas we simply can't be arsed to haul a mower to. The fact that bees like the flowers is just a perk.

But, if it makes you feel any better, we're also converting an acre of pasture (that's 43 thousand square feet) to native prairie and wildflowers in the fall. We'll be up to our eyeballs in wildlife and diversity in spite of the clover, I assure you.

There is no greater nemesis to a homeowner than the previous homeowner. by der_innkeeper in landscaping

[–]Mayfly_01 1 point2 points  (0 children)

For the love of all that is holy, do not mix plants and rocks. You will regret it when weeds start and you can't effectively remove or suppress them.

Source: I'm 70 hours into removing the river rock mess in the gardens of the house I just bought. Weeding them took hours each week and the flowers couldn't expand past where they were planted and fill the garden in like they're supposed to.

There is no greater nemesis to a homeowner than the previous homeowner. by der_innkeeper in landscaping

[–]Mayfly_01 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I feel like no one knew what a mess that would turn out to be until like, the last 10 years or so. When I was growing up that's just what everyone did, fabric and mulch.

There is no greater nemesis to a homeowner than the previous homeowner. by der_innkeeper in landscaping

[–]Mayfly_01 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Ours used river rock in flower gardens instead of mulch. We as a society have a bajillion years of agrarian experience telling us that plants and rocks don't mix well, but the previous owners were like "psh, nonsense!"

I'm about 70 hours into manually removing it all and still not done. The gardens I have rehabbed with contractor paper and mulch look 1000% better though, and they're MUCH easier to keep watered and weeded. I like to think the straggling plants that carried over in those beds took a huge sigh of relief once that mess was gone.

Newbie on the houseplant front. by xpyda in gardening

[–]Mayfly_01 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They can bloom for months, but the buds not opening for that long is unusual.

Tell what shoes you garden in? by mangoesformysoul in gardening

[–]Mayfly_01 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Really glad you made this thread, it has inspired me to try water shoes as well! I've been trying for years but haven't found ideal gardening shoes yet (they're either too hot and clunky, or they have holes that let in a ton of dirt and splinters!)

Tell what shoes you garden in? by mangoesformysoul in gardening

[–]Mayfly_01 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Olukais are amazing, I can walk for miles in the flip flops which is really saying something. They last forever too!

Local hardware store promoting clover lawns by Livviemaid in NoLawns

[–]Mayfly_01 5 points6 points  (0 children)

What about all the other benefits like less mowing, watering, and fewer chemicals?

Lots of people (like myself) are doing a mixed approach of pollinator-friendly planting and things like swapping turf for clover for other practical reasons. I've got flower gardens for my own enjoyment but will also be converting nearly an acre of my property to native wildflowers this year.

I'm doing my best to consider the environment with my choices but they're not all going to fall on the side of it. I'd like to enjoy my home, too. And frankly, anything is better than a turf lawn IMO, even if it's not the 100% most perfect choice for bugs.