In Praise of a Former Lawn

Canada Anemones

by Peter Sigmann

This is the story of a former lawn that was replaced by delightful wilderness. The setting is a sloping and shady section of a Door County shore lot between house and road, away from the beach. A lawn had been maintained in that location for about six decades controlling weeds, water and especially the leaves of burr oaks, maples, basswood and cedars. Mowing was cumbersome. I concluded that the location was not meant to be a lawn and decided to return it to a natural state 10 years ago.

The conversion from lawn to managed wilderness was easy and enjoyable. I began by not raking the leaves in the fall. The lawnmower was used one last time to cut up the leaves in order to keep them on the site. The next spring and summer I observed what was growing beside the turf grass after surviving many years of shearing with the lawnmower. I was pleased to see Bellwort, Starry Solomon’s Plume, Canada Mayflower, Large-leaf Aster, Zigzag Goldenrod and Bottlebrush Grass growing and blooming in the first summer. Less welcome plants also appeared, including small specimens of poison ivy and autumn olive, both easily controlled by pulling the roots with suitable pliers. I left alone what I could not immediately identify and deferred action on some woody species, including cherries and dogwood.

During the first summer and fall I collected seeds of shade-loving plants and spread them on the soil. I purchased and planted some nursery-grown species of ferns, some Trillium bulbs and Baneberry specimens. I planted a few plugs of Pennsylvania Sedge. Finally I added a small Leatherwood Tree that proved to be comfortable in this understory setting and blooms nicely in the spring.

In order to get into the middle of the plot I made a narrow meandering trail using woodchips incidentally produced on the property from branches too small for firewood. The fallen leaves from the trees remain undisturbed and decompose as they naturally do in the forest.

The result of the conversion has been a thoroughly enjoyable three-season experience. Springtime brings a colorful display of Bellwort, Trillium, Virginia Bluebells and Wild Leek that have expanded from year to year. Hepatica, Bloodroot and Spring Beauty will be growing at the periphery but not (yet?) spreading. Several Columbine plants will make a scattered appearance.

The sunny exposure will end in late May when the tree canopy is complete. The area will have no more than two hours of spotty sun exposure. The ephemeral spring flowering plants will retreat to be replaced by a spectrum of shade-loving plants.

Cranesbill Geranium

Various ferns continue to thrive and expand. Cranesbill wild geraniums provide color while Canada Anemone grows in a large diagonal swath with showy white bloom. Blue Cohosh, early Rue, Thimbleweed, Zig-Zag Goldenrod and various asters thrive as individuals. Red and Doll’s-Eye varieties of Baneberry reach the size of a shrub. Starry Solomon’s Plume shows its stars and attempts to dominate the plot but everything else competes to reach about 20 inches in height. Bottlebrush Grass is taller. Pennsylvania Sedge expands in patches closer to the ground. The original turf grasses have disappeared, overwhelmed by the woodland flora. Seen from a distance the appearance is one of various shades of green and of a highly structured surface. Close up a succession of flowers will be enjoyed through summer and fall. Colorful berries of Cohosh, Solomon’s Plume and Baneberry add additional interest.

My new little ecosystem continues to evolve with minimal “management” on my part. It is a perfect spot to learn from nature. My experience could be reproduced on many properties on this peninsula with shady areas of lawn that could be naturalized in the manner described.

Wild Ones promote environmentally sound landscaping practices to preserve biodiversity through the preservation, restoration and establishment of native plant communities. For more information visit wildones.org.