In 2022, I took out 8,000 square feet of lawn and replaced it with native perennials and native plant seed mix made specifically for the Inland Northwest.
Here’s what I learned:
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Whatever weeds your lawn is covering will come springing back to life with a vengeance- vetch, St. John’s wart, ‘fury thistle’, ‘flibber weed’ and others
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Your sod was likely planted in soil at the sod manufacturer that had a ton of nuisance weeds – that little weed that looks like, but isn’t forget-me-not, spurge, cudweeds, Chinese cress, etc
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Even the plants that deer don’t eat – baby ponderosa, elderberry, asters – will be eaten by them because apparently everything is tastier if it is irrigated and if you are hungry enough
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Your irrigation that works for lawn is going to have challenge spots for natives
Things I have done:
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Hire college students to weed during the growing season – about 20 hours/week
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Put down mulch in some seeded areas to buy time against the weeds
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Put cages around many of my perennials
If you are doing similar planting/work in the Spokane area, I would love to connect.
by LesslyF
10 Comments
Nice edging in that second picture. Really makes it look clean and intentional.
Goodness that is impressive and inspiring!!! Did you design the layout yourself or hire?
Beautiful job! I’m just learning about natives in the Inland NW. I’ve done most of my native gardening in the Georgia Piedmont area. Very inspiring!
WOW GOAT LEVEL
Gorgeous!
i’m OBSESSED
I also learned about the importance of site prep after converting lawn. In retrospect, and especially for a larger area, I’d probably scalp the lawn during a drought and smother with a chip drop. Maybe even selective herbicide for anything that comes up after the next rain. Then plant/seed in fall. Too many weeds in the seedbank to do what I did (till the lawn).
Beautiful. I’m in New England and just starting with a small patch in the backyard.
Wow! Beautiful… Nice work!
Gorgeous