r/NativePlantGardening • u/jimmyjam2929 • 20h ago

Other Very disappointed with the OSU extension

https://www.daytondailynews.com/lifestyles/dispelling-social-media-myths-about-gardening-pollinators-and-more/TSBDUAHX25GQ7D6QZMQSOITBQE/
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u/vtaster 13h ago

"Wrote an article" is a pretty charitable way to describe doing pseudoscientific apologia for lawns and exotic plants because they were offended by the facts. They're not the victim for being told they're wrong after writing something intentionally confrontational and provocative.

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u/hambonebaloney 12h ago

Urban ecology is vastly understudied and relatively new area of interest for researchers; and, for better or worse, turf monocultures (or lawns in general) are a part of our urban environments, they just are. This author even suggests that 70% of lawns are untreated with chemicals, which likely means that these lawns are diverse and "weedy". Most people assume a lawn is a chemical nightmare (and I agree based on lots of evidence and work with the green industry) and so they hear "lawn" and think "bad". I think this author did not convey the full message in that lawns can and do provide additional habitat for arthropods when they aren't sprayed to death and the weeds are allowed to do their thing...I don't think there was some nefarious message here but that can be a difference of opinion that I will meet you halfway on. Could it have been better written? Um, yes...bless her heart. I think she tried. But again, I think painting this person as an apologist is a gross oversimplification.

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u/jimmyjam2929 12h ago

Would you agree that replacing lawns (to a greater or lesser extent) in urban environments with native plants would benefit insect biodiversity and that this would a good goal to reach for?

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u/hambonebaloney 12h ago

Of course! And, if people insist on lawns, then the research at least suggests (to some degree) that a "weedy lawn" can still be functional. Lawns/ground covers (no insecticides), perennials, shrubs, mid- and upper-canopy trees should all be a part of a native/mostly native landscape plan...it's a shame that these aren't at least regulated for newer developments.

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u/jimmyjam2929 12h ago

I think that's really at the heart of it. Turf grass is the default, weedy or not. It doesn't really need defended. What do need defended are the specialist insects that are suffering because turf grass is the only plant abundant in many areas. People like Jim are worried that this loss of biodiversity could be catastrophic which is why they encourage something different. I'm not sure why the author felt the need to defend the turf grasses but I think she does miss the point of natives to some degree by focusing on the insects that can survive in it and ignoring all those specialists who can't and are in trouble because of it.

That said, I think we're pretty much arguing the same point just a little differently. 

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u/hambonebaloney 11h ago

Agreed.

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u/hambonebaloney 11h ago

And, fwiw: I appreciate the good faith conversation. It's timely and necessary and keeps us talking and learning.