Ask the Author: Kim Eierman
Answered Questions (1)
Kim Eierman
Hi Donna. My first suggestion is to make sure that the contractors do not scrape off all of the topsoil from your landscape to build your house. This is a common, but destructive practice that results in the loss of soil biology (the "life in the soil" that makes for healthy plants). If topsoil removal has already happened, I recommend that you amend the soil with a couple of inches of organic compost.
If you want to transition an existing lawn area into a pollinator garden, the easiest and most economical way to prep the area is to "sheet mulch", which is essentially mowing the grass as low as you can, laying down layers of newspaper or cardboard, topped with a layer of compost and a layer of mulch (there are many recipes on the internet). You then let the area decay for a number of months until the newspaper or cardboard has degraded. This allows you to plant right into the soil, without destroying soil biology (the macro and micro organisms that make for healthy soil). The timing for decay will depend on the time of year and your region's climate.
Regardless of where you are planting, you want to do a soil test in the prospective planting areas. I recommend doing this with your state/regional agricultural extension or a credible commercial lab, like Waypoint Analytical, for most accurate results. The soil test results will help guide you in proper plant selection. The Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center plant database has good information on plant preferences for soil and site conditions.
Good luck!
If you want to transition an existing lawn area into a pollinator garden, the easiest and most economical way to prep the area is to "sheet mulch", which is essentially mowing the grass as low as you can, laying down layers of newspaper or cardboard, topped with a layer of compost and a layer of mulch (there are many recipes on the internet). You then let the area decay for a number of months until the newspaper or cardboard has degraded. This allows you to plant right into the soil, without destroying soil biology (the macro and micro organisms that make for healthy soil). The timing for decay will depend on the time of year and your region's climate.
Regardless of where you are planting, you want to do a soil test in the prospective planting areas. I recommend doing this with your state/regional agricultural extension or a credible commercial lab, like Waypoint Analytical, for most accurate results. The soil test results will help guide you in proper plant selection. The Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center plant database has good information on plant preferences for soil and site conditions.
Good luck!
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