Actions Residents Can Take

• Allow grass to grow longer, at least 3 to 4 inches. This creates a stronger root system.
• Mow less often, every 2 or 3 weeks even in summer. Your lawn will retain water better and be more resilient to drought.
• When you do mow, put your lawnmower on mulch to leave the glass clippings on the lawn. This recycles nutrients back into the soil.
• Water deeply less frequently instead of shorter durations daily. This builds better root systems and saves water. 
• Water only in the early morning, evening or at night. Note that Edina has watering restrictions. 
• Avoid mowing damp grass during drought. 
• If you participate in No Mow May or let your grass grow tall (the legal limit is 12 inches), mow only 1/3 of its blade height at a time when you are returning it to your desired height.

Fertilizer and Pesticides

• Limit or stop using synthetic fertilizers and pesticides (including herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides).
• Use organic fertilizers and only when necessary. Once or twice a year will do (recommended in spring and/or fall).
• Do not fertilize when heavy rainfall is in the forecast.

Rainwater

• Harvest your rainwater in a rain barrel or cistern and use it to water your plants.
• Install a raingarden using native plants to help absorb runoff, manage stormwater and filter any pollutants in the water.
• When purchasing plants or seeds, do your research beforehand! Consider these questions to ask.

Yard Waste

• Create a backyard compost or brush pile made up of yard waste. This creates habitat and nesting sites for pollinators and helps reduce yard waste.
• Or leave your dead plant material, such as leaves, broken twigs, flower stalks and flower heads, in areas of your yard. Less work for you and it supports pollinators. Try it with your garden beds, side yards or other less visible areas.

In June 2023, the Edina City Code was amended to encourage and make it easier to replace lawns with native grasses and wildflowers. According to Edina’s 2019 Ground Cover and Carbon Sequestration Study, more than 25% of all land area within the City is made up of maintained or manicured lawn space.

Compared to lawns, native landscaping is easier to care for, requires less irrigation, benefits pollinators and wildlife, and helps the City with its Climate Action goals. Other changes in the code include:

• Allowing turfgrass and weeds up to 12 inches in height
• Reducing setbacks for planned landscape and natural areas
• Repealing a requirement to cut planned landscape and natural areas at least once per summer.

Turf Alternatives

• Bee lawns
• Clover lawns
• Perennial groundcover
• Fescues (low-mow grasses)

Not ready to replace your lawn? Consider trying one of these turf alternatives in a small portion of your yard.

Plant Native

• See this native plant list (PDF) organized by blooming season
• Blue Thumb’s Plant Finder lets you sort by light, soil moisture, plant time and bloom colors and months.
• These nurseries and retailers (PDF) specialize in native plants.

Tip: Plant flowering species with different bloom times so pollinators can thrive from spring through fall. 

Support pollinators and reduce your fall yard cleanup with a few easy steps. 

Leave dead plant material, such as leaves, broken twigs, flower stalks and flower heads in areas of your yard, such as garden beds, behind the shed, etc.