lawns – East Metro Water

Good for the goose and gander

By: angiehongmn June 20, 2025June 27, 2025

Wildlifebirding, birds, Canada goose, featured, geese, lakes, lawns, Minnesota, nature, travel, Wetlands, Wildlife, wildlife recoveryLeave a Comment

Given their current abundance, you might be surprised to learn that Canada geese were a rare novelty in the 1920s. In fact, state and federal agencies actually worked together to breed and re-introduce them to the wild during the 1950s.

Do turf lawns protect us from ticks or make the problem worse?

By: angiehongmn May 16, 2025June 5, 2025

Yards and Landscapingfeatured, habitat fragmentation, landscaping, lawns, Lyme disease, native plants, ticks1 Comment

Many homeowners assume that a tidy lawn with short grass is the best defense again ticks. On a large scale, however, suburban lawns may actually be making our tick problem worse.

No Mow May & Slow Mow Summer

By: angiehongmn May 9, 2025May 8, 2025

Yards and Landscapingfeatured, lawns, Minnesota, No Mow May, pollinators, yard careLeave a Comment

Participating in No Mow May is a great entry-level action that anyone can take to help protect the environment, and best of all, it is FREE!

Many people who participate in No Mow May become inspired to take the next step and transition their conventional turf lawn into a low-mow or alternative lawn. Drought tolerant turf-grass species like fine fescues reduce the need for mowing, watering, and chemicals, while low-growing flowers like Dutch white clover, self-heal, yarrow, creeping thyme, and pussy-toes can also be incorporated to provide food for native bees.

Even with rain, lawns remain brown

By: angiehongmn June 30, 2023June 28, 2023

Groundwater, Yards and Landscapingbee lawn, drought, featured, lawns, native plantsLeave a Comment

Lawn irrigation creates the largest demand from municipal water supplies during the summer.

What can you do to keep your yard looking good, without draining the water supplies we all depend on?

Anti Being “Anti No Mow May”

By: angiehongmn May 9, 2023

Yards and Landscapingbee lawns, featured, gardening, lawns, native plants, No Mow May5 Comments

There seems to be an “anti” No Mow May movement underway and I fear we are missing a golden opportunity to ride the wave of public enthusiasm and begin breaking the green grass chains that bind.

Bee Lawns and Slow Mow Summer

By: angiehongmn March 30, 2023March 30, 2023

Yards and Landscapingbee lawn, bees, featured, lawns, No Mow May, pollinators1 Comment

A movement is underway to transform our residential landscapes into something that is a little softer, a little wilder, and much better able to support wildlife and clean water.

Bring on the bees

By: angiehongmn August 11, 2022November 30, 2022

Yards and Landscapingbee lawns, featured, lawns, pollinators, Washington Conservation DistrictLeave a Comment

It is hard to say whether bee lawns are a hot new trend or a throw-back to the early 1900s.

Hard Fescue and SMART Controllers Allow for Green Grass with Less Water

By: angiehongmn August 26, 2021

Water Conservation, Yards and Landscapingfeatured, lawns, low mow grass, SMART controllers, sustainable lawns, water conservationLeave a Comment

At the end of a long, hot summer with no irrigation or rain, the plot with 100% hard fescue grass was still lush and green, while the one with Kentucky bluegrass was almost entirely dead.

Bee Lawns are Green Lawns

By: angiehongmn July 22, 2021July 22, 2021

Yards and Landscapingbee lawns, bees, Blue Thumb, drought, featured, lawns, pollinators, water conservation1 Comment

Unlike typical lawns, bee-friendly lawns feature a mix of drought-tolerant fine fescue grasses and low-growing flowers such as Dutch white clover, creeping thyme, and self heal.