The outdated idea of a perfectly picturesque, meticulously mowed lawn covered in commercial sod is being replaced by natural lawns filled with native plants and pollinating wildflowers.
Lately, the r/gardening subreddit has been constantly filled with stunningly beautiful photos of home gardeners trying to restore their yards to the way nature intended.
Photo credit: Reddit
Photo credit: Reddit
For example, one Reddit user shared a photo of a lovely front yard display, describing it as “a low-budget, mostly grown from seed, mostly native plants that transformed a front yard into a garden 10 weeks after planting.”
Before and after photos show the plants blooming and thriving with vibrant colors and lush foliage.
The original poster explained that the drought of 2023 had killed off their lawns, so planting flowers would be a better option than buying and planting new grass. Among the new plants are shrubs, grasses, turfgrass, goldenrod, and milkweed.
“All but one existing plant species are native to the eastern half of the United States, with the majority found in southeast Texas,” the gardeners write.
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Not only are these plants native to the region, but they also save gardeners a lot of money: the average cost to lay sod ranges from $800 to $10,000, depending on the area of the lawn and the type of grass.
“Most of the plants I'm growing are from $50 seeds,” the gardener revealed.
And the cost savings go far beyond the initial investment in the factory.
Switching to a native grass lawn can help you conserve water, save time mowing, and reduce your exposure to fertilizers and pesticides. Wild gardens provide excellent habitat for pollinators and attract beneficial wildlife, benefiting your wallet and the environment by keeping nature intact.
“Great job!” one Reddit user commented on the post.
Another Reddit user wrote: “This is amazing!”
“Very well done,” commented another Reddit user. “Really pretty and well designed.”
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