The lawn just to the right of the main entrance to Thoreau School is in bad shape. It's about 20% bare soil, with many weeds plus several immense ant hills. It's unsightly, plus a health hazard as a source of dust. It's been this way for at least 10 years.
The lawn is unlikely to improve due to multiple stresses:
- High foot traffic
- Poor soil
- Dry summer conditions, no watering
- Nearly 100 % shade all day
Proposed remedy
By expanding the lower rain garden gradually, we can use plants that actually thrive in shade to replace the grass.
We will use native plants plants already proven to grow well in the two gardens on either side:
- Sprengel's sedge, Carex sprengelli. This is an attractive, grass-like plant that grows in distinct clumps about 18" high. It has attractive seed heads and the end of longish stems. It provides food for native animals, especially birds migrating in the fall. Plants will be sourced from the lawn (where it has self-seeded) and the other two rain gardens.
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