The bee apocalypse may or may not be a myth, but one thing is for certain: it is altering the goals of some lawn owners who want to plant lawns for bees. For lawn experts who have dutifully tended pristine landscapes with trimmed turf and edged gardens, it may seem like a bee lawn apocalypse. However, a proper bee lawn is as beautiful in its own way as a beautifully manicured lawn with short grass.
Bee lawns do not eliminate the need for turf grasses, nor do they prescribe to the same aesthetics as traditional American lawns. Yet, they aren’t a neglected lawn. Instead, they have less maintenance…and more flowers.
For example, clover is often planted with grass to create a blanket of flowers for bees to pollinate. You can still mow your lawn, although you let it grow a bit longer, and the clover quickly blooms into flowers that can help bee populations. Gardens are also planted with bee-friendly flowers that attract pollinators.
It is true that the neighbors may be disconcerted about a bee lawn if it means you have quit mowing and are letting everything become overgrown. A bee lawn is not a lazy lawn, although it may be low maintenance. It should still look well-kept in a more natural way.
You should talk to neighbors about your plans for a bee lawn and note their concerns. They may be greatly opposed to the flowering clover in your lawn. If there are no ordinances against it, it doesn’t really matter. However, most people don’t want to rile up their community.
On the flip side, most people support the efforts of individuals to improve bee populations. It has become widespread knowledge that bee populations are in decline. The efforts of the individual homeowner can help natural bee populations but can also help the livelihoods of bee farmers. The more bee-friendly environments, the more bees. It’s pretty simple.
If you are considering a bee lawn, do the world a favor. Don’t treat it as an excuse to not do any yard work. It will lessen your work, but it will also give you the opportunity to use healthy, organic lawn products and plant native flowering plants that improve the ecosystem of the region. Also, make sure you aren’t the eyesore of the neighborhood.
If you plan it right, bee lawns can be beautiful in a natural way. However, they should not be an unkempt mess of a yard that has “gone wild.”
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