Not everyone has the time or the desire to take care of green spaces - often a rock garden is the solution. But conservationists warn.
Update from May 19: Conservationists and bee friends warn of rock gardens
No more because of wild growth: In German front gardens and housing developments, builders often prefer the easy-care gravel or gravel gardens . For a long time there has been debate in some cities about such sparsely planted areas, where small and large stones (next to ornamental plants) can be found instead of colorful flowers and bees . Especially when, in combination with paved areas, gravel deserts are created in cities that are already heavily sealed.
In this context, conservationists warn of a "petrification" of the cities . And there is also resistance in some city administrations. Such an example is according to a report by geo.de, the city of Erlangen - the "first city in Bavaria" that forbids "concrete deserts" in new buildings and conversions. In addition, flat roofs and windowless facades would have to be greened there. The principle of voluntariness, according to the city administration, has brought nothing, the report also says. For this reason, the open space design statute was supplemented accordingly.
Wild bees also see environmentalists increasingly at risk . Your nesting opportunities would become increasingly rare. Pesticide use, surface sealing and monocultures in many green areas made life difficult for the growers.
"Above all, the wild bees are in dire straits," Express.de quotes, for example, the expert Peter Rosenkranz, head of the State Institute for Apiculture at the University of Hohenheim. A third of what we eat depends on bee pollination , the report says - and, according to the expert, could be 10 to 15 percent more productive if we optimized pollination. Especially by the wild bee. In the meantime, more and more cities have left grass, only mow twice a year - or planted bee meadows , the report also says. But most of all, as Express.de reports, the "bee friend" would be happy about a decree against the "perverse rock gardens", which in the recent past would have replaced colorful front gardens. Back to nature has to be more than a slogan.
Flower strips on the vegetable patch are good for insects
Original article from April 11, 2019: Gravel gardens in criticism
Bremen - There is a pink plastic flamingo in a gravel front yard, in another you can see scattered yellowish tufts of grass and dark pine bushes between tons of stones. Quirky photos of German gardens are uploaded to the satirical Facebook page "Gardens of Horror" almost every day. Are more and more private properties actually turning into barren gravel and stone deserts - be it for the convenience or time constraints of the owners? Some homeowners may find the exterior design with concrete blocks and gabions - these are wire baskets filled with stones - also more beautiful than blooming flowers.
Goodbye to rock gardens? Bremen is working on the law on greening open spaces
Funding programs for planting roofs, facades and backyards are available in almost all German cities from Munich to Hamburg. The city of Bremen wants to go one step further with a " Local Law on the Greening of Open Areas and Flat Roof Areas ".
The red-green Senate bill is due to be adopted by the Bremen citizens in the second week of May. It stipulates that outside surfaces "should be greened or planted" if this does not conflict with another permitted use. In plain language: huts, terraces or paved bicycle parking spaces are allowed, large stone beds are not .
Video: Gardens of horror - rock gardens are eco-sins
"The aim is to put a stop to the creeping scrapping of the front gardens and to ensure planting there," said Bremen's environmental senator Joachim Lohse (Greens). Above all, it is about the improvement of the small-scale urban climate in view of future hot summer and heavy rain events . The new law, which does not apply to Bremerhaven, was created on the initiative of the Greens. A list of insect-friendly plants is to be given to the property owners. Existing gardens and building applications are not affected by the new regulation, which is due to come into force in May. "There are no interferences with people's possessions," emphasizes Lohse.
Also interesting : biodiversity: this is how you ensure flowering life in the home garden.
Your opinion is asked
A green garden does not necessarily have to be more time-consuming than a rock garden
The Federal Association of Garden, Landscape and Sports Field Construction (GaLaBau) also regrets the trend towards lifeless gray gardens. "Unfortunately, many believe that it is easier to maintain than planted areas," said spokesman Andreas Stump. Added to this is the range of packaged pebbles or crushed stone in handy sizes in hardware stores. However, the association advocates recommendations and advice instead of bans and has launched an initiative under the motto "Save the front yard".
The Nature Conservation Association (Nabu), on the other hand, sees the municipalities as more responsible. Some cities are already very active, says Nabu garden expert Marja Rottleb. So there is a stone and gravel garden ban for new development areas in Heilbronn. In many places, municipal parliaments are heavily debating the extent to which authorities can interfere with privacy and citizens can prescribe garden design.
The stones mostly did not come from the local quarry, but with a high probability mainly from China or India, the Nabu criticizes. Andreas Meinberg, owner of the SteinGitterWand company in Storkow near Berlin, emphasizes that his stones came from Germany and Europe. He argues for more serenity in the discussion. His older customers are concerned about less work on the property. "You no longer have to paint the fence or cut the hedge."
Green politician Lohse emphasizes that a garden with native plants is not automatically more maintenance-intensive or expensive . Rather, the quality of life increases, says the environmental senator: "The insect world can develop here, including soil organisms and songbirds. When the birds sing in the garden, it is good for people too."
You can find out how to make your own garden into a paradise for bees here.
dpa
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