Acquisition of plants/seeds
Q: What species comprise the native lawn?
A: We have several native lawn installations at Cornell Botanic Gardens. The first was established between 2010 and 2012, and plant list for that is published and available here.
Our next iteration, known as native lawn 2.0, was established in 2024 as an experiment to evaluate different site preparation treatments and aims to make the lawn accessible to a wider audience. The plant list and seeding rates for this newer lawn area are not yet published.
Our most recent experiment includes an evaluation for growing the native lawn 2.0 mix as a sod.
Q: I want to establish a native lawn, but don’t know where to obtain native seed to do so. Where can I find a commercially available native-lawn seed mix for sale?
A: Native seed supply remains an ongoing challenge. Presently a commercial mix is not available.
Q: Are any of the species in the native lawn available commercially?
A: Yes, many of the species in the native lawn are available commercially on an individual basis, either from seed or plants or both. You can check with your local native plant nurseries, or for other suppliers through the www.northeastseednetwork.org.
Q: Native lawn examples are generally grown from seed. Can you grow the lawn using plugs and potted plants?
A: Yes, you can grow the native lawn using plugs or nursery grown plants. The cost and work involved to do so is higher, but conversely, the native lawn will establish more quickly from this method.
Q: Are there plans for establishing native lawn sod that would ease installation?
A: We have partnered with a commercial supplier of native meadow sod called Meadow Lab, to evaluate growing the native lawn 2.0 seed mix as a sod. Installations are being grown and installed in the Mundy Wildflower Garden in the spring and summer of 2026. The trial sod plantings will be located adjacent to the original native lawn at the Gardens’ entrance off Caldwell Road.
Establishing a Native Lawn
Q: What is the best site preparation for establishing a native lawn within an existing turf lawn?
A: Sod removal is recommended. Not only does it remove some soil fertility (which benefits turf grasses and weeds more than native lawn species), but it also removes much of the weed seed bank.
Q: Can you establish the native lawn by direct seeding a mix directly into existing turf lawns?
A: It is not recommended to seed a native lawn without eliminating the existing turf. The high level of competition from existing turf grasses and weeds will make it difficult and unlikely for the native species to germinate, grow, survive and ultimately replace the turf.
Q: I understand the native lawn works well in sun and part shade, but what about heavy shade?
A: The species in the native lawn do not thrive in heavy shade so it is not recommended for these conditions.
Native Lawn Maintenance
Q: For mowing, how often and at what height(s) do you mow?
A: Mowing height and frequency are really up to the landowner’s preferences, so long as you don’t mow too short. We recommend not mowing lower than 6” tall, and no less than 1-2 times/year. Beyond that, you could mow as frequently as you want, and at a height(s) that meets your aesthetics.
Q: My lawn mower won’t mow at 6” high or higher. What equipment do you use to mow the native lawn?
A: We have used several tools over the years, and each works but has different pros and cons. We used an old-fashioned hay scythe, an electric string trimmer, and (most recently) an electric hedge trimmer on an articulating pole. If using renewable energy, the battery powered equipment has zero carbon emissions.
Q: We have a lot of deer in our area. Can I grow a native lawn in places with high deer populations?
A: Yes. Most of the biomass in the native lawn is grasses and sedges, which are not preferred browse for deer. For other forbs, most of these can tolerate mowing (which is a surrogate for browsing), as long as they aren’t mowed or browsed too short.
Original 2010-2021 native lawn plant list:
Forbs
Antennaria neglecta (pussy toes)
Antennaria plantaginafolia (pussy toes)
Anemone virginiana (thimble weed)
Fragaria virginiana (wild strawberry)
Hedyotis caerulea (bluets)
Penstemon hirsutus (hairy beard– tongue)
Phlox subulata (creeping phlox)
Sisyrynchium angustifolium (blue-eyed grass)
Grasses/sedges
Danthonia spicata (poverty oat grass)
Danthonia compressa (poverty oat grass)
Agrostis scabra (tickle grass)
Carex eburnean (ivory sedge)
Carex pensylvanica (Penn sedge)
Carex tonsa (shaved sedge)
