Laurel Native Habitats Updates!

Transforming yards to habitats

Across Maryland, thousands of people are joining together to transform their yards and neighborhoods into thriving, beautiful habitats full of native plants that support birds, bees, butterflies and other wildlife. The Laurel Native Habitats Program is a collaboration between Laurel for the Patuxent and the National Wildlife Federation that is helping to grow this movement across Laurel. 

Five Laurel homes have been selected for a free lawn makeover! 

After a competitive application process, 5 homes across Laurel have been selected and a cohort has been formed among the home owners. These cohort members will work and learn together and become ambassadors for transforming lawns to native habitat.

Progress

  • L4Per and Garden Projects Manager Jimmy Rogers met with each of the cohort ambassadors to discuss the design of the 10’x10’ native habitat plots. Jimmy reviewed the light conditions, soil texture, moisture level, as well as each participant's preferences for plant height, flower color, and general style. The designs will take these details into account, as well as ground cover and bloom time.

  • Thanks to Veteran Tree Services, about 4 cubic yards of wood chips were dropped at each of the 5 locations.

  • Ambassadors soon gathered to spread the wood chips over the garden areas, about 1 ft. deep. This will kill all of the grass and minor weeds after five weeks. It will also decompose a bit, so you may see some mushrooms pop up! This is a good sign.

  • We will be ready to install native plants come fall. Check back here for updates!

Listen to Jimmy Rogers explain the first step in transforming lawn to habitat!

Interested in doing this to your own lawn?!