Over the past two years, MSU Landscape Services has transformed approximately six acres of underused turfgrass into 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.
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 planted across six campus locations. Landscape Services estimates the university will save more than $74,000 over five years by converting select low-use lawns into native habitat while supporting native wildlife and creating resilient green spaces.