What was once grass that required weekly mowing is becoming habitat for bees, butterflies and other pollinators across Michigan State University.
Over the past two years, MSU Landscape Services has transformed approximately six acres of underused turfgrass to create landscapes that support pollinators, reduce maintenance costs and advance the university's sustainability goals. This first phase of the project will serve as a blueprint for expanding pollinator-friendly spaces across campus in the coming years.
"This project reflects the dedication of our entire Landscape Services team,” said Landscape Services Coordinator Josh Ridner. "Group leader Wes Brown played a key role in making it happen. Even though the native plugs were small, planting thousands of them took a lot of work. Seeing how successful the plantings have been after just one year makes all that effort worthwhile.”
MSU maintains hundreds of acres of turfgrass, much of which serves important recreational and campus functions. But Landscape Services identified several low-use areas that required regular maintenance while providing little functional or ecological value.
Rather than continuing to maintain those spaces as traditional lawns, they converted those areas into habitats designed to attract bees, butterflies and other insects.
Investing in Michigan's ecosystems
Pollinators play a critical role in Michigan's agricultural and natural ecosystems, helping fertilize crops and native plants that support wildlife and food production.
To establish the new habitats, native wildflowers and grasses suited to Michigan's clay-heavy soils and varying site conditions were selected; nearly 4,000 native plugs and seeds were then planted across six campus locations. Using both seeds and plugs allowed the landscapes to establish more quickly while creating a habitat that looked purposeful rather than neglected.
"As a land-grant university, Michigan State has a responsibility to demonstrate sustainable practices that others can replicate,” said Matt Bailey, MSU Landscape Services manager. “These pollinator habitats are more than beautiful landscapes, they're living examples of how thoughtful planning can reduce maintenance inputs, support native wildlife and create resilient green spaces. We hope these projects inspire homeowners, communities and other institutions to consider similar approaches in their own landscapes."
Landscape Services estimates that routine turfgrass maintenance — mowing, trimming, fertilizing and weed control — costs roughly $1,100 per acre each year. By converting select low use lawns into native habitat, the university expects to save more than $74,000 over five years while using existing maintenance budgets to establish and care for the new landscapes.
Once established, future care will focus on annual mowing, monitoring invasive species and harvesting seed that can be used to expand pollinator habitat elsewhere on campus. As the sites mature, maintenance needs and associated carbon emissions are expected to decline even further.
Building on lessons learned
The first phase also allowed the Landscape Services team to test different planting techniques and site preparation methods. Those lessons will help guide future habitat conversions as MSU continues expanding pollinator-friendly spaces across campus.
“Most of these plantings were completed between June 1 and June 25. Using our process, they have been the most successful plantings to date,” Ridner said. “It's a different approach to establishing native habitat, but the results speak for themselves. The fall plantings are doing well and should appear fuller by the end of the season. By preparing the seedbed, protecting the seed after installation and incorporating native plant plugs, we've significantly accelerated the establishment process.”
The university has identified approximately 16 additional acres that could eventually transition from low use turfgrass into native habitat.
As colorful native flowers begin replacing traditional lawns, the project demonstrates how landscape management can support sustainability, conserve resources and create beautiful environments for people and pollinators alike.
To learn more about the project, visit pollinators.msu.edu.
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