Garden Q&A: If I let one patch of my lawn go wild, will it make a difference?

Whether you're a gardening beginner or expert, Irish Examiner columnist Peter Dowdall has the answer to your questions

Letting even a small patch of lawn grow wild provides essential food and shelter for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. File picture

Question

I don't want to let my lawn go wild, but I am happy to leave a patch go. Is this just a fad, or will it actually make a difference?

Answer

That’s a brilliant question, and the short answer is yes, it really can make a difference. Letting even a small patch of lawn grow wild provides essential food and shelter for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.

I’m a great believer in diversity, and that extends to diversity of opinion. So whilst some may think that you must leave the whole lawn go back to nature, others want a more balanced approach — meaning, yes, you don’t have to let the whole garden go, just a corner, a strip along a fence, or around a tree can become a little haven for biodiversity.

What might look “untidy” to some is actually full of life and sustaining life itself, including ours. You’ll be amazed at what appears when you stop mowing for a few weeks, clover, dandelions, self-heal, all vital nectar sources and beautiful to look at. 

It’s not just a fad — or if it is, it’s a fad that has been going now for millions of years — it’s a simple, practical way to support nature from your own back garden.

And remember, gardening isn’t about choosing between neatness and nature, it’s about finding a balance that works for both. A wild patch is a lovely, low-effort place to start.

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