As consumers continue their quest to transform unassuming outdoor buildings into things of beauty with living roofs, Nature’s Lawn from Johnsons Lawn Seed offers the ultimate solution, helping garden retailers to tap into this continued trend.

Generating opportunities beyond lawncare, Nature’s Lawn is an innovative seed mix that combines slow-growing grasses with native wildflowers; ideal for giving any boring outdoor building a facelift by creating a luscious green roof with all the ecological benefits of a thriving wildflower meadow.

Not just a pretty view

More than just a beautiful aesthetic, the popular trend for creating green spaces on the roofs of outdoor buildings, such as bin and bike stores – and even the traditional garden shed – is also born out of a renewed interest in supporting wildlife.

Consumers are more aware of environmental factors and value the role pollinators play in our ecosystem, which is why they are actively seeking new ways to garden in harmony with nature, trying to ‘do their bit’ even if they don’t have a large lawn or garden to play with.

Green roofs are the perfect way to for gardeners to improve their view and increase biodiversity in their outdoor space at the same time. Bin stores with integrated roof planters are now widely available to buy, whilst a quick search online brings up a wealth of ‘how to’ tutorials on how to build your own wooden frame to top any outdoor building, making it easily accessible for consumers with any budget or skill level.

Easy to maintain

Garden retailers can support customers with their living roof ambitions by providing easy pick-up products and inspiring them to go for something more inviting than sedum on a roll, adding interest with their own aerial low-maintenance wildflower meadow. Nature's Lawn boasts a carefully selected blend of slow-growing grasses and UK-native perennial wildflowers that can tolerate regular mowing or cutting. The seed mix attracts pollinators, like butterflies and bees while maintaining a beautiful blooming and rooftop lawn.

One of the standout features of Nature's Lawn is the freedom to choose the desired cutting height, ranging from 50mm to 150mm. By trimming less frequently or leaving the grass slightly longer, users can create ideal conditions for the wildflowers to thrive and, because the lawn is designed to remain manageable and aesthetically pleasing without growing too tall, gardeners won’t feel overrun. All of this spells great news for the environment and means less maintenance for your customers.

The wildflowers will self-seed over time, gradually increasing their presence and enhancing the overall natural beauty of the rooftop lawn, keeping pollinators coming back for more.

The inclusion of slow-growing grasses like Strong Creeping Red Fescue, Chewings Fescue, and Hard Fescue ensures a durable and resilient raised lawn that will do well in full sun or shade, with little effort.

Guy Jenkins, Consumer Manager at Johnsons Lawn Seed said: “At Johnsons, we are always looking to create new and exciting opportunities for retailers. Our innovative Nature’s Lawn with Mowable Native Wildflowers allows gardeners to think differently about their lawns and get more creative. We know living roofs are a wonderful trend to help improve biodiversity in outdoor spaces, so why not do that with grass and native wildflowers? Our innovative seed mix can help create a beautiful, low-maintenance rooftop garden that works in harmony with nature and that your customers will love. It’s an easy way for them to help pollinators thrive, bring colour to their outdoor space, and transform a nondescript, functional outdoor building into a thing of beauty. It’s a win/win, particularly as it has potential to increase basket spend.”

Nature’s Lawn is offered in 400g cartons with an RRP of £12.99. 

Meet the wildflowers: the full list* featured in Nature’s Lawn with Mowable Wildflowers

• Birdsfoot Trefoil
• Black Medick
• Black Knapweed
• Ladys Bedstraw
• Meadow Buttercup
• Oxeye Daisy
• Self-Heal
• Yarrow

* Wildflower species are subject to availability.

*subject to wildflower availability