Is it time to get rid of lawns?

There is a lot of very broad generalisation there, and so many holes in the argument (and the supposed history) that you could use it for a sprinkler system.

I do object to the description of people genuinely trying to do their best for the environment by diversification in their gardens as engaging in 'sanctimonious propaganda'. There has been very little reference to doing away with lawns, mostly it is suggested that the obsession with perfect, absolutely weed free grass and the spraying of chemicals to achieve it is not the way to go. I am not a great fan of flower meadows, but neither do I see any great value in totally monoculture grass; between the two is a reasonable balance.

😀 that bee needs a bit more landing practise! He was miles out!

What about us people who HAVE to cut lawns. City ordinance says you have to cut lawns and keep the area around the house kept.

i mow 8 acres once a week (luckily I enjoy this) but to off set the mowing I leave 7 acres grow wild for pollinators and wild life.

the simple thing: if you want to sell the house, is someone going to be put off by 3 foot high grass?

Yep

Intended to have a lawn at one time but let it grow wild instead. It was on the site of an old orchard but that had become a jungle, overgrown and diseased with 30/40 years of neglect. I would have liked to reinstate it but now there's a septic tank at the end that needs access for emptying.

Drives the older generation mad who are conditioned to want a neat lawn and concerned about 'what will the neighbours think'.

Could you explain this one a little bit?

As someone who has damp areas in my back garden, I was going to sow them with wildflowers etc and let it re-wild.

But how is a single tree good for insects, instead of hundreds of wildflowers?

I have read that dandelions are almost entirely edible. Netlles, as well, can be used to make soup. There must be a number of Irish plants which are considered weeds but whose usefulness is, in fact, overlooked.

Might be in the way it's prepared (like practically anything). This doesn't look too bad.

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I noticed during the pandemic that the beautiful manicured walled garden in Marlay Park was let grow almost wild. It looked terrible. The excuse was, let it grow wild to help the pollinators etc.... However, the other hundreds of acres that were left, had enough flowers for the pollinators to feast on.

It was just an excuse for cutbacks and saving money by Dun Laoghaire County Council.

🤣 Don't judge on looks. Have you actually tried it before recommending it?

I made it at lunchtime - we have lots of young nettles growing in a couple of patches in the garden. It was quick and easy and tasted fresh and interesting. Nice colour. Hard to say what it tasted of, just pleasant vegetation I suppose. I'd make it again.

Edit - you can make a nice tea from all the goosegrass that is spreading now - gather a good handful from a clean spot, pack it into a mug (or a teapot if you are feeling posh, not a teapot that is used for regular tea though). Pour on boiling water and leave it to steep for 5 minutes or so, haul out the silage and drink the tea.