For an eco-friendly lawn, try a prairie restoration

Thousands of years ago, low-growing turf grasses were helpful in fending off danger and in hunting for food. Through time, these grasses evolved for use in recreation and livestock grazing purposes. As a result, lawns became a status symbol. A grass lawn, as opposed to cropland, signified that you were wealthy enough to own land that you didn’t have to farm. Today, grass lawns are the status quo, although most of us may not stop to consider why. What is important to consider is how this change from prairie to a grassturf urban landscape affected the Minnesotan ecosystem.
In short, this change has resulted in extensive soil erosion, water pollution, and decreased biodiversity across the Midwest. There are, however, ways in which you can remedy these adverse effects. So, this spring, try something different with your lawn. 
There are many ways to make your lawn more sustainable: planting a vegetable garden, recycling runoff rainwater, and even using solar lights. However, the healthiest lawn is the one that is restored to the way that nature intended it to be. In the Midwest, that means prairie. Prairie restoration, or reconstruction (depending on the area in which you live) is a conservation effort that includes the act of reintroducing native grassland species into an area where they were destroyed for urban or industrial development. Prairie restorations increase biodiversity, create habitat for native animals, and reduce water runoff and soil erosion. Once they’re established, prairies are cheaper to maintain than a traditional lawn. So, how exactly do you get started? 

1. Know the rules. MPLS city code has ordinances in place to ensure that city yards are maintained to an adequate standard. In Minneapolis, grasses are allowed to exceed eight inches in high “as part of a managed natural landscape,” like a prairie. For more information, read the ordinance here.
   
2. Make a plan. Before you get digging, be sure to know what you want in your backyard prairie. Do you want paths? What kind of plants do you want? Would you prefer to DIY, or do you plan to enlist the help of a contractor? For information about getting started with your prairie restoration, check out this article from the Nature Conservancy. A quick Google search can offer you numerous contractor results for prairie restorations; base your decision off of the amount of time and moeny you plan on investing in your prairie. If you have lots of time and a small budget, this may be an excellent DIY project.
   
3. Start digging. Once you break ground, it’s time to consider the other features of a prairie. Including strategic rain gardens will help to catch runoff water, reducing waterway pollution and increasing prairie vitality. If you plan on restoring prairie to your boulevard, consider planting salinity-tolerant plants that can withstand excess road salt in the winter. This University of Minnesota Extension site has excellent, comprehensive information on planting a residential prairie garden.
   
4. Maintain. In the first few months of growth, your prairie ecosystem may need to be mowed intermittently to stimulate growth, especially in the spring. Once you have an established prairie, your lawn will need noticeable less (if any) watering. General upkeep of your beautiful new prairie is pretty straightforward. Prescribed burns can help to revitalize prairie landscapes, but are for the most part, not feasible in the city. Read more about the benefits of prairie burns here. For more information on the various ways of managing a prairie meadow, check out this source from Prairie Nursery.
   
   ​5. Admire your work. Now that your prairie is established and flourishing, step back and take in the beauty. Not only have you re-established an integral Minnesota ecosystem in your own backyard, but you’ve also increased biodiversity, reduced the impact of non-native species, and created a beautiful landscape to enjoy in every season.