Planting with Purpose

Zeller Rain Garden - LGROW square.JPG

Pollinators, which include insects, birds, bats, and some small mammals, are an essential part of a healthy environment and our food system. Our pollinators support a healthy community of plants that clean our air and water, stabilize our soil, provide habitat for wildlife, as well as food for both humans and animals.

Unfortunately, the populations of our native pollinators, namely bees and butterflies, have been steadily declining for the last few decades. Incorrect use of potent pesticides can kill off colonies of bees and herbicides can destroy critical sources of food. Pollinators are also impacted by climate change and the disruption of natural patterns, increased habitat loss and disease outbreaks.

Planting with purpose can support our pollinators and the essential functions they provide our environment. The City of Grand Rapids signed the Mayors’ Monarch Pledge on April 30th, 2025, and is committed to protect monarch butterflies, and other native pollinators, by promoting conservation efforts and encouraging native plants.

Native plants will activate a green space to support pollinators while also providing many health and financial benefits to our community. With more native pollinator habitat in Grand Rapids, we will collectively experience:

  • Less burden of maintaining turf grass with chemicals & mowing

  • Reduced localized flooding in streets and sidewalks

  • More birds, bees, and butterflies

  • More flowers, trees, and greenery to enjoy

Native plants are well suited for the climate of West Michigan, so they require less water and routine maintenance compared to traditional turf grass. Their deep root systems provide resiliency to droughts and extreme rain events – which also reduces localized flooding by allowing stormwater to soak deep underground. The life cycles of native plants naturally support our local insects and birds by providing vital food supplies for these animals throughout the year (with seeds, leaves, fruits and roots).

How to Plant with Purpose?

There are many yard care practices that you can follow to help increase pollinator habitat at you home, work, or place of worship. Below are a few recommendations on yard care practices to help you get started with protecting pollinators:

Many types of insects such as bees, butterflies, beetles, and moths, as well as birds, bats and other small mammals, share a critical responsibility in our ecosystems. As they travel between the flowers that sustain them- each individual will transport countless grains of pollen that will become the seeds of the next generation of plants. Providing them with high-quality habitat in our city is essential to a robust ecosystem that can withstand a rapidly changing climate.

A plant, or group of plants, is considered native if it has existed in our area prior to European settlement in the 15th century. This designation is made because of the significant, and permanent, changes that occurred to the ecosystems in North America after European settlers arrived. Through agriculture, major land use changes, and the introduction of new plant species (both intentionally and accidentally),

Our contemporary landscape is now a mixture of native species, nonnative species that includes both naturalized and invasive species. Naturalized organisms (such as dandelions or Norway maples) have been present in North America for hundreds of years and do not pose a threat to our local economy or native species like invasive plants and animals.

Lists of native plant species to the Grand Rapids region can be found on the MSU Extension Native Plants and Ecosystem Services webpage. When planting native species, please keep in mind how tall a species may grow as a mature plant. Specifically in lawn extensions and right-of-way areas, plantings should adhere to City of Grand Rapids code ordinances.

Can you think of a patch of land that could use a refresh? Our yards, school grounds, places of employment or houses of worship can all be opportunities for native plants.

Most lawn-grass varieties (i.e. Kentucky Bluegrass) are not native to Michigan and will not provide the same ecological benefits as native plants. By enhancing unused areas of turfgrass with native grasses, flowers, and shrubs, we can provide purpose to more of our land.

Here are a few things to consider when selecting a site to plant with purpose:

  1. How is this space currently being used? Wide open lawns can be community spaces for picnics, sports, recreation activities, or pets. 
  2. How much area in that space can be spared for native pollinator habitat?
  3. What does the space look like throughout the year? Knowing how much sunlight, water, and which type of soil is present at your site will determine which varieties of native plants will thrive.
  4. It’s ok to start small and find a little corner that is not being used. In the next couple of years you can continue to add more plants as you learn the seasonal conditions of the location.
Wild Ones is a national organization that hosts native plant sales provides resources on creating native gardens.

Visit the links below to find native plant vendors in Michigan and native garden design ideas!

Wild Ones Michigan Native Plant Vendors Wild Ones Native Garden Design Ideas

Prioritize Native Plants

  • Native plants are adapted to our local environment, the seasons and climate, so they will become easier to care for once established in a landscape. By adding more native plants to your garden beds, you will support native pollinating insects have evolved to thrive alongside native plant species.

Phase out Lawn Grass

  • Species like Kentucky Bluegrass do not provide enough food or habitat for our pollinators. As West Michigan continues to develop its urban areas- it is critical to ensure our insects, birds, and bats have native plants available for food and essential habitat.
  • As an alternative to reducing the area of mowed turfgrass in your yard, try adding a clover mix to your turfgrass areas - this will add diversity that benefits pollinators and will add nutrients to your soil, helping to make your turfgrass healthier without chemical inputs!

Choose Variety

  • Don’t limit yourself to just flowers! Choose a mix of native forbs (milkweed, coneflowers, irises, etc.), grasses, shrubs and trees that bloom throughout the seasons, ensuring a continuous food source for pollinators. Grass seed and forbs are critical sources of food for birds and insects during the colder seasons.

Leave Natural Spaces Undisturbed

  • Our local critters could still be sleeping off the cold fall and winter until May! Delay spring clean-up until temperatures are consistently at 50F overnight. Pollinator habitat such as leaf stems, grass clippings, and last year’s plant debris could still have bugs sleeping from autumn.  

  • Leave whole or mulched leaves in your yard during the fall and winter. These leaves provide invaluable habitat for pollinator species, especially for overwintering eggs and adults. However, it is important to keep streets and sidewalks clear of leaves and plant debris. When blocking a sidewalk or storm drain, these leaves can be a mobility hazard and cause localized flooding.

Use Sustainable Pest Management

  • Chemical pesticides are poisonous substances that can often have unintended consequences for plants beyond the target. Many pesticides can also pose a health risk to pets and children who interact with a landscape after an application. Misuse, and over-application can pollute creeks, ponds, rivers and groundwater resources when excess pesticide washes into these bodies of water after a rain.

  • Alternative methods for removing weeds are pulling or hoeing; and covering planting areas with 2"-3" of mulch to prevent weeds from sprouting. 

Signage and Intentionality

  • Use signage to help communicate the yard care practices you use and their associated benefits with neighbors and others who may be curious about your pollinator-friendly yard. 

  • Consider keeping trimmed borders near sidewalks to keep the walkway clear and send a visual cue that any tall vegetation in your yard is intentional.  

There are many organization in the Grand Rapids area already doing amazing work with planting pollinators, installing rain gardens, and preserving our local ecosystems. Below are some local organizations where you can get involved;

Blandford Nature Center- the mission of Blandford is to engage and empower our community through enriching experiences in nature. Our vision is a thriving, diverse community that supports a healthy, natural world.

John Ball Zoo- engages in restoring and protecting habitats through education, awareness, and direct action.

Kent Conservation District- protects and enhances the natural resources of Kent County.

Lower Grand Rapids Organization of Watersheds (LGROW)- protects and improves the natural resources of the Lower Grand River Watershed for all to enjoy.

Plaster Creek Stewards- seeks to reconcile relationships between people and the natural world by restoring health and beauty to the Plaster Creek Watershed.

Sierra Club Grand Rapids, Growing Green- encourages natural lawns and native gardens for our neighborhoods.

Wild Ones River City-promotes native landscapes through education, advocacy and collaborative action.

Contact Us

Email

sustainability@grcity.us

Yard Waste Resources

Reminder: do not put yard waste into your refuse or recycle carts. Instead, request a yard waste cart or drop-off your yard waste at:

 

 2001 Butterworth SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49534.

 

This is offered, at no out of pocket cost, to Grand Rapids residents only, so bring ID for proof of residence. 

 

 Yard Waste Service Season

1st full week in April through the 2nd Friday in December

 

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If interested in sharing your sustainability work in our e-newsletter, please reach out to Kat Hart at khart@grcity.us by the 10th of the month.

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