Proud homeowner reveals how garden continues to thrive amid 100 degree heat: ‘I was very surprised’

Regular lawns can dry out in the heat, but native plants can still thrive, as one homeowner recently demonstrated.

The gardener shared photos of his ar/meadowscaping project, a community dedicated to replacing lawn grass with wildflowers and native grasses. “It might be 100 degrees, but the prairie is blasting!” they said

His photos show a long strip of meadow on the edge of a road. The flowers are growing densely and several species are in full bloom. A sign at the end of the garden reads “Piedmont Prairie in progress” and directs viewers to Leaf & Limb for more information.

Leaf & Limb had a lot to say about the Piedmont Prairies, their term for meadows. “These grasslands host an incredible abundance of life for thousands of species that then feed other species, creating a robust web of life,” he said on his website.

“Piedmont lawns are (one-fifth) the cost to install and maintain compared to a traditional lawn,” Leaf & Limb continued. “Once established, Piedmont meadows only need to be mowed once or twice a year, compared to 20-30 times a year for a traditional lawn…Piedmont meadows require no fertilizer, pesticides, fungicides or chemicals. Once established, they should never be watered.”

That’s a lot of benefits for an inexpensive patio upgrade.

Leaf & Limb also noted that all of these changes make the meadow better for the environment, reducing soil, water and air pollution. They even help water sink deeper into the soil to reduce runoff and soil erosion.

The original poster also seemed incredibly happy with the way his meadow looked.

“I was so surprised to wake up early this morning to do some watering and it’s like the prairie project burst with color overnight!” they said in a comment. “I guess these guys really like the heat because everything else in my yard looks sad.”

🗣️ If you were to switch from a grass lawn to a more natural option, which of these factors would be your main motivation?

🔘 To make it look better 🌱

🔘 Savings in water and maintenance 💰

🔘 Helping pollinators 🐝

🔘 No way am I ever getting rid of my lawn 🚫

🗳️ Click on your choice to see the results and have your say

Commentators agreed. “Looks fantastic – you’re doing a great job!” said one user.

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