Asked March 28, 2023, 2:07 PM EDT
I've attached three pictures of my back yard, which has a large population of ground bees, now active. The yard has a small slope and is partially to mostly shaded, and I've never used fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides. So the grass is outnumbered by weeds, including from the nearby commons area's heavy load of stiltgrass. That the ground bees aerate the soil is a mixed blessing, given the heavy clay composition. We also have a small dog, who is visited on occasion by our kids' large dogs, who excel at disturbing turf.
A classic lawn is out of the question, I think, so I'm thinking of converting to a mix of groundcover and shrub plantings, surrounded by paths that the dogs could use to run. Two questions: 1. I'd like to protect the ground bees as much as possible, given their pollination service. What should I do avoid hurting them? 2. Any groundcovers you could recommend that would withstand dog traffic? I already have some sedges in a nearby rain garden.
Thanks.
Howard County Maryland