Edmonton pushing for lawns to go natural

'Native plants are better adapted to the local climates and the local soils so they can survive better'

Image | Naturalization

Caption: A city of Edmonton worker planting flora native to Alberta. (City of Edmonton)

Enough of that highfalutin Kentucky bluegrass or common fescues — the City of Edmonton is exploring ways to encourage homeowners to go natural when it comes to their lawns.
Embracing naturalization is a landscaping technique that focuses on native flora, allowing properties to grow naturally instead of requiring the constant manicuring of lawns.
Ward 10 city Coun. Michael Walters asked city staff to look into the benefits of native vegetation, including how lawns can be converted and how homeowners can be encouraged to transform their lawns into a naturalized wonderland.
A report on the issue was on the agenda for the city's utilities committee meeting Friday.

Image | MArk Nolan

Caption: Mark Nolan, a landscape architect with I-B-I Group, says that naturalization of lawns is worth considering.

But Mark Nolan, a landscape architect with I-B-I Group, told CBC's Edmonton AM radio show the go natural idea can make sense for Edmonton homeowners.
"Native plants are better adapted to the local climates and the local soils so they can survive better without watering, fertilizing and other maintenance," he said.
They can survive better without watering, fertilizing and other maintenance. - Mark Nolan
Naturalization isn't a new idea, Nolan said the practice has been utilized widely since the early 1990s. There are several areas the city has slowly been naturalizing over the years.
Nolan points to the surrounding bush of the Whitemud freeway and Rundle Park as good examples of where naturalization has worked within the city.

Grow baby, grow

A city website states that lawn naturalization can result in economic, environmental and quality of life benefits.That includes reduced maintenance costs, providing natural food for wildlife populations and reducing noise levels as plantings mature.
There's a three-step naturalization process. It starts with every homeowner's dream — reduced or no more need to cut the lawn.
"Regular grass mowing (turf maintenance) will decrease, or stop, allowing the grass to grow naturally," a report on naturalization reads.

Image | Naturalization stage 1

Caption: The first stage of Edmonton's approach to naturalization is essentially to just let the grass grow. (City of Edmonton)

Trees and shrubs native to Alberta can be planted to help "establish a healthy and diverse ecosystem," the report says. The final stage is planting smaller native trees, shrubs and wildflowers.
A lot of native plants are very attractive and a lot of them are fruit bearing so you can have a native garden that also produces food. - Mark Nolan
Nolan said with the massive variety of vegetation that flourishes in central Alberta, people who naturalize their yards wouldn't be limited on the look of their lawn.
"Edmonton is on the edge of the central parklands region, which is a mix of grasslands areas and groves of woodland and forests, like aspen woodland," said Nolan.
"A lot of native plants are very attractive and a lot of them are fruit bearing, so you can have a native garden that also produces food."