Our community values careful maintenance of public and private lands, including lawns. But many areas of turf grass are underutilized and offer little ecological value, yet require regular maintenance. Naturalizing these lands with native species can enhance biodiversity, reduce mowing, sequester carbon, and create beauty.
The City is collaborating with local organizations and citizens to explore ways to naturalize public lands and support landowners who wish to naturalize theirs.
Maintained turf provides open spaces for recreation and visual appeal but little habitat for native species and can require regular mowing and chemical inputs. Naturalization transforms underutilized lawn areas into native landscapes that can:
- increase biodiversity through native plantings
- support diverse animals – including valuable pollinators – that depend on them
- help sequester carbon from the atmosphere, which can slow warming and enrich soils
- reduce energy and chemical inputs like fuel, herbicides, and pesticides
- eliminate lawn watering
- reduce stormwater and pollution to our streams and lakes
- reduce maintenance over time from weekly mowing to periodic weeding
- create vibrant and beautiful landscapes for education and enjoyment.
Naturalization is a (Sometimes Messy) Process
Creating diverse landscapes takes planning and patience. Quitting mowing won't automatically bring back natives and can invite invasive species and neighbor complaints. It's also not permitted by the City code. But investing time and care up front can create vibrant, beautiful, low-maintenance landscapes that can help save money and the planet.
Naturalized landscapes include grassland/prairie, pollinator gardens, and future forests. Creating them is a process that includes:
- Preparing the Site: Turf grasses must first be suppressed through mechanical means (e.g., cardboard or plastic sheeting) or herbicides. Watch for yellow grass!
- Seeding/Planting: Based on budget and area, seeds can be broadcast or plants installed (either 'plugs' or established plants). Seeding can happen in winter and planting in spring.
- Establishment: In the first 1-2 years, native plants require watering as their roots develop and mowing or weeding to keep invasive species at bay. Time to get hands dirty.
- Enjoyment: Once established, time once spent mowing can be used for other things like nature appreciation. Periodic weeding is sometimes a chore, but the butterflies make it worth the effort.
Native landscapes are more diverse and less manicured than the lawns we're used to seeing. The naturalization process is unfamiliar to many and takes time. And sometimes plants have their own agendas! But patience can lead to more sustainable places and new skills
The City owns a significant amount of land for recreation and public utilities, which have the potential for naturalization. The City has worked with Miami University planning students to identify underutilized areas and potential naturalization strategies. And it is piloting these techniques – and a new "sponsor-a-natural-area" program in collaboration with local organizations and residents – at a few sites around the City.
- A pilot pollinator garden at the Oxford Community Park sponsored by Miami Audubon Valley and the Branstrator & Sullivan families
- A pilot grassland/prairie at the Oxford Community Park sponsored by Miami Audubon Valley and the Prytherch/Veslany family
The City encourages residents, businesses, and others to consider naturalizing their lands, too, while balancing flexibility with the need to enforce reasonable property maintenance standards.
While a simple "no mow" is not permitted, residents can convert lawns into cultivated native planting areas of unlimited size within existing code and enforcement standards.
We encourage residents to develop a planting plan and communicate with their neighbors, which can help proactively address community concerns.
Please continue to visit this page, as we add more resources and information regarding landscape naturalization!