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UMN Bee Lawn advice #831609

Asked May 23, 2023, 1:29 PM EDT

I'm a South Minneapolis resident and have been trying to get the UMN bee lawn mix (with fescues and clover) to grow in my lawn the past two years. I plant in September and even though it grows in well, most of the lawn has died each summer in heat and drought. Here are my two questions: 1. After reading on the UMN extension website that spring planting in mid May to early June is recommended for bee lawns, I'm now wondering if I should try and plant the bee lawn mix right now rather than waiting until fall? Or is it already too hot for fescue to germinate? 2. I'm also wondering if I should stop trying the bee lawn mix and instead try and find something pollinator friendly that is not a "cool season" grass, since it seems likely that it will be too hot for fescue to stay green for most of the summer. Attaching a photo showing what most of my lawn looks like currently. Any guidance would be appreciated! Thank you!

Hennepin County Minnesota

Expert Response

Hi Robin,

I’m sorry you’re having such trouble establishing a bee lawn. If you want to try again I’d do it now. Some of these plants need to be mature to be ready for winter. 

The drawback to sowing seed now is that there’s more competition from weed seeds. If there are plants that you don’t want in your new lawn (dandelions, creeping Charlie, whatever) remove them before you spread seed. Then water regularly, and keep watering this summer if it’s dry. Your lawn will be tougher and more drought-tolerant in future years.

Tall turf-type fescue might be a better bet than fine fescue. Mixing it with white clover should give you a tough lawn that can take traffic. White clover sprouts easily and in my yard easily copes with dog traffic even as it feeds the bees.

The one drawback to tall fescue is that it hates ice in winter, so if your lawn is in a low spot you may want to stick to the fine fescues. More info here:

https://turf.umn.edu/when-seed-short-solution-tall-fescue

I hope this helps. Good luck.

MJ Replied May 23, 2023, 3:44 PM EDT

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