Laurel Native Habitats

Cohort 1: 2024-2025

Transforming yards to habitats

After a competitive application process, 5 homes across Laurel were selected and a cohort was formed among the home owners. We met for a kickoff event in July at L4P’s native garden in Sweitzer Park. Members got to know each other, shared their motivation for the joining the program, and their experience with gardening for wildlife. They heard about what the process of transforming a portion of their lawn to a native garden would entail.

Five Laurel homes were selected for a free lawn makeover!

L4Per and Garden Projects Manager Jimmy Rogers (Vibrant Gardening, LLC) met with each of the cohort ambassadors to discuss the design of the 10’x10’ native habitat plots. Jimmy reviewed the light conditions, soil texture, moisture level, as well as each participant's preferences for plant height, flower color, and general style. The designs will take these details into account, as well as ground cover and bloom time.
Thanks to Veteran Tree Services, about 4 cubic yards of wood chips were dropped at each of the 5 locations.
Ambassadors soon gathered to spread the wood chips over the garden areas, about 1 ft. deep. This killed all of the grass and minor weeds after five weeks. It also decomposed a bit, so some mushrooms may have popped up! This is a good sign.

Summer

Listen to Jimmy Rogers explain the first step in transforming lawn to habitat!

Fall

Time to plant! The cohort members gathered at each other’s homes to plant the gardens.

Spring

Cohort members met in early spring to weed out winter weeds. We made sure everyone knew what their new plants looked like after emerging in the spring. Now the gardens are abloom!