The Regenerative Lawn
By Sherrie Ottinger, The Tennessee Dirtgirl
I often say “observe your personal environment, and pay attention to what it’s telling you. Nature seeks balance. Humans seek control”. If you’re yard is filled with beautiful, mature trees, and grass struggles, that’s natural. Maybe a beautiful carpet of moss grows, and that’s natural too. Trees have very extensive root systems, reaching far beyond the canopy, in many cases. Grasses are not nearly as massive rooted, especially when we’re the ones trying to MAKE grass grow there. Moss does well because it grows very shallowly. Save your time, money, and frustration and STOP trying to make something happen, or stop that which is doing well. Be glad that you have all those air-conditioning, oxygenators, and that your mowing is minimal. Your job might be to keep the scrubby vining things from killing the trees, or picking up branches that fell in a wind. If you’re like me, you might be looking for seedlings to pot up for later. Often, this little forest has a thick layer of moist leaves or pine needles, and makes a great nursery. The sunny edge of an area like this, would be an awesome place to start a hügelkultur, where you could eventually grow veggies.
Keep an eye on the health of the trees, and be vigilant when you see one dying/dead. Have it put on the ground, and laid in the little forest, to break down and feed the soil…just as Nature would. Oh! Don’t grind out the stump, as it continues to work with the underground lives, long after it dies.
You could take this opportunity to learn what naturally grows on the edges of this environment, and plant some of them. Raised beds do best here, because the established roots don’t take kindly to being chopped up.
So, what did we get this week? No “icides” or synthetics. Instead use natural rotting things. Observe, listen, learn the natural balance. Celebrate and appreciate weeds and uncut areas. Cut the lawn high, with a well-maintained tool. Don’t worry about what the neighbors think. They have to eat, breathe, and drink too, and it all depends on our use and care of our natural resources. Yes, you can be regenerative with only a lawn and landscape.
The Tennessee Dirtgirl
