W.E.E.D.S. is a group of concerned citizens, much like the founders of Wild Ones, Natural Landscapers, Ltd., who came together to protest an outdated weed ordinance in Cincinnati, Ohio.

On June 11, 2011, Cincinnati City Council adopted revisions to the Weed Ordinance (CMC Chapter 731) that allow for managed natural landscaping.  The code formerly defined noxious weeds (Sec. 731-1-A) as any and all grass, weeds and wild plants over 10 inches.    That included a lot of desirable plants!  The Weed Ordinance was an example of how outdated codes can sometimes keep us from “doing the right thing” environmentally.   One small ordinance, the Weed Ordinance, was used to cite neglected properties but also to cite property owners who were trying to cultivate a diverse yard, not a monoculture of grass. 

A diverse yard, which is naturally landscaped, does not mean “don’t mow your grass” but rather do think about your yard as part of nature.  Yards are one place where people can demonstrate their interest and participation in the web of life by cultivating native plants, butterfly gardens, vegetable gardens, rain gardens, and low maintenance native groundcovers.  A manicured lawn uses lots of fossil fuel to mow and often toxic chemicals to keep out anything but grass.  A managed natural landscape does not require as much mowing or any toxic chemicals, can be more drought tolerant, and attracts birds and butterflies.   Cincinnati can be proud to join other municipalities in updating codes that allow for and sometimes even promote environmentally friendly practices.

Deborah Jordan,
W.E.E.D.S. Founder, Enright Ridge Urban Ecovillage, Price Hill

Native plants are defined as those which grow naturally and belong in this area. At one time there was an abundant seed source of these plants in our soil before the development of cities and suburbs. Native Plants are part of our natural heritage, have evolved to survive in this area using less water and will thrive without the use of chemicals.

Birds, butterflies, moths, other pollinators and our local wildlife have evolved to depend on these native plants, which are natural food sources for wildlife providing superior nutritional value when compared to non-native plant species. The current Cincinnati Weed Ordinance prevented some native plants from being considered beneficial (such as the the milkweeds which are the only host plant to the Monarch Butterfly) and recommends the use of herbicides to eradicate these beautiful flowers from our landscape less we be subject to a fine in some cases.

W.E.E.D.S founder Deborah Jordan, tells her story and what motivated her to work for change of the Cincinnati Weed Ordinance, Chapter 731.

"This issue (of the city code not permitting natural landscaping as an acceptable alternative to the mowed lawn) first landed in my lap in August 2006 after our yard was cited by the city of Cincinnati for violating the Weed Ordinance. Since it happened on our wedding anniversary and I had just done some beautification, I was dismayed. Getting cited by the city is an automatic $200 fine unless you contest it or rectify the "problem" which can result in a fine reduction.

My husband and I chose to contest it. In other words, we took time to gather information, pictures, and support letters to present our case, plus rearranged our work schedules. Mind you, we live in an urban ecovillage where there are other alternative yards. Complaints though are generated anonymously so that's a cause for paranoia. We had our alternative yard for 15 years so we weren't sure who suddenly didn't like it, but we thought it might have been the weed and litter patrol folks themselves since 2 other houses on our street had recently been cited. The complaint was eventually dismissed, but we realized the ordinance was out of date.

All this to say, I have been trying, in my small way, to update the ordinance since then. Others have joined with me who are concerned about our codes preventing people from living ecologically. We have visited and given information to City Council members and the Health Department. The city Health Department enforces the existing ordinance. They are now willing to update the ordinance but need to know how to tell the difference between natural landscaping and neglected properties. Pictures are one way to help educate everyone. Thanks for your help!" ~ Deborah Jordan

We have included a link to pictures of native landscapes on this page. Please visit to see the beauty that these plants provide in any yard-regardless of the property size.