Gilbertson said if people are looking to take that step to naturalize their yards, they should make sure they do their homework. He added the drought was a big factor for people wanting to switch, but they are also more interested in seeing more life in their yards. He said in the long run, people will be better supporting the ecosystem as well as saving money on their water bills when they switch to something more natural. You are supporting biodiversity, so you're supporting pollinators, you may be supporting endangered species."
"When you are having a greater variety of (plant) species, you are having a larger amount of plant material on site that is providing habitat for key species. He said when natural yards are put in, they need water the first year they are planted, but after that, they can receive minimal to no water and still flourish.Īlong with being easier to maintain, he said it is a good ecological step to help a variety of insects thrive. So when you have periods of drought, they can still reach water deeper down in the water profile," said Friesen-Hughes. Whereas a lot of these tougher plants, native plants, like prairie grasses and other prairie plants, they have deep roots. "These lawns turn brown when it doesn't get enough rain because it doesn't have deep roots and it's not adapted to this climate. Nikolas Friesen-Hughes is the owner of Dogwood and said people have realized how much work and time normal lawns take, especially over the last few years when Winnipeg and Manitoba were dealing with drought conditions. "We talked a lot about what needed to happen with the design and it all came together." "Then we have the whole idea of pollination, helping the bees out that are in distress."Īfter mulling over the idea, she finally decided to partner with Dogwood Landscaping Design to find the best layout for her yard. She said she has had an idea to make the switch for a while, as she was wanting something that took less water and less time to maintain. And convert it to a more natural landscape," said Gilbertson. "Take out the grass, I'm done with the grass. Janet Gilbertson said it was time for her to move on from normal grass in her front yard. This is a transition that one landscaper says is becoming more popular as people learn the benefits of the switch. One Winnipeg woman decided it was a time to change up her front yard, going from grass to something more natural for the prairies.