Guest Blog: Lawn to Garden Movement
ENVIRONMENTAL CRISIS: IS THE DAMAGE BEYOND REPAIR?
With all of the reports of record-breaking heat and epic drought, can there be anyone left who doubts that we are in the midst of an environmental crisis? Unfortunately, yes. If there is money to be made, followers to be gained, or votes to be collected, there will always be some who will deny the obvious, and this has been a cause for despair among those who care deeply about our planet.
But there are reasons for optimism. Many cities have enacted legislation attempting to remedy the negative effects of climate change, and increasing numbers of concerned individuals have chosen to voluntarily make changes to their property in support of greater biodiversity which benefits the planet and its many denizens. One relatively easy yet significant approach toward this goal is to reduce or eliminate traditional grass lawns.
WHY ARE WE SO ATTACHED TO OUR LAWNS?
The history of grass lawns goes back to at least the 12th century, when lawns were maintained with hand tools or grazing animals. Lawns became larger and more elaborate over time, and came to be seen as a status symbol. The bigger and fancier the lawn, the more enviable it became. Most of the early colonists in this country used their property for edible and medicinal plants until the 1800s, when the mechanical lawn mower was invented. Gas-powered mowers followed, as well as tools and machines for aerating, irrigating, dethatching, and more. Lawns and their maintenance became more expensive and more time-consuming. To this day, the goal of having an emerald-green lawn that looks like something on which Jack Nicklaus could sink a putt inspires many homeowners to invest countless hours in upkeep and large amounts of money in fertilizers and weed control.
DO WE NEED NONFUNCTIONAL GRASS?
Nonfunctional grass is defined as turf that is solely ornamental and not regularly used for human recreational puposes or civic/community events. Few people are aware that turf grass is the biggest irrigated crop in the U.S., using more labor, fuel, and equipment than industrial farming. It covers more than 2%, or 40 million acres, of land. Consider that three trillion gallons of water, 200 million gallons of gas for mowing, and 70 million pounds of pesticides are used on lawns in this country each year and it becomes clear how much damage to the environment turf grass inflicts.
There is a movement afoot, called the anti-lawn or rewilding movement, to change those statistics. The goal of this movement is to allow the wilderness to return as primary and to restore wildlife in yards, thereby boosting the local ecosystem.
The popularity of the anti-lawn movement is due to intense water deficits, most acute in the western part of the country, although all states in the country with the exception of Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Maine have been plagued with unusually dry conditions. Nonetheless, almost nine billion gallons of water are used each day in this country for landscape, gardens, and irrigation, meaning that approximately one-third of residential water use goes to lawns and gardens. And yet recently the health of residents in the southern part of Louisiana was threatened because drought left the Mississippi River with water levels so low that saltwater crept upriver from the Gulf of Mexico and entered their drinking water. It's no wonder that some are crying for changes to prioritize safe water for drinking over attempts to keep traditional grass yards beautiful.
CHANGING ATTITUDES
The idea of destroying a perfectly nice patch of grass to make room for native plants more conducive to the conditions of a particular area seems like an obscenity to many people. But once one comes to see nonnative grass as a parasite sucking up precious water like a sponge, it ceases to be so attractive.
Each of us bears responsibility for harming the earth. We have been in the process of turning it into a wasteland partially due to our insistence on keeping and glorifying turf grass, a bad habit we inherited from generations before us. We must change what we believe qualifies as being attractive and train our eyes to see beauty in a different way.
We must also develop a less human-centric attitude about “neighborhood.” Are only humans our neighbors, or can that term also apply to other species that have been pushed out of yards when there are no native plants to nourish them?
It is incumbent on each of us to change the narrative in our personal spaces, to heal the earth and salve the hurts inflicted upon her.
HOW CAN WE MAKE AMENDS?
We can each do our part in making our corner of the world healthier for its many species by giving up our traditional lawns and swapping them out for native flora. Native plants require no chemical fertilizers, prevent soil erosion, and improve the quality of the soil. Additionally, they provide better support for important pollinators like bees, whose populations have been decreasing. Following are some suggestions for lawn alternatives, but because native plants differ according to region, it is important to consult with the Native Plant Society in your state. This organization can guide you regarding the best native plants for fostering a diverse ecosystem in your yard.
It's not necessary to eliminate all of the grass in your yard in order to make a difference. Of course, the more grass that is taken out the better; but even a tiny bit that is traded for native plants improves biodiversity. If you like the resulting change, you can extend the area of your native planting.
Grasses:
For those wanting to help the environment but still desiring a traditional-appearing lawn, low-maintenance or “no-mow” grass may be the answer. Depending upon where you live, drought-tolerant grasses such as blue grama grass, buffalo grass, or zoysia grass might fit the bill. These grasses need less water, less fertilizing, and less mowing.
Grass mixes that support pollinators, such as Fleur de Lawn are another good choice. Fleur de Lawn includes ryegrass, fescue, clover, white yarrow, English daisy, sweet alyssum, and baby blue eyes, and provides for a beautiful lawn whether it is kept short or allowed to grow a bit longer to allow more blossoming of the flowers in the mix. Another low-maintenance option is a bee lawn, which consists of fine fescue, white clover, self-heal, and thyme.
Prairie Nursery (prairienursery.com) in Westfield, WI sells low-maintenance mixes, as well as native plant and seen mixes.
Wildflowers
A wildflower lawn is highly appealing and can be done entirely from seed, making it very economical. It is also a low-maintenance option, requiring weeding only once per season and mowing once per year at the end of winter. In addition, the positive ecological impact of meadow-lawns is greater than other options, as they tend to contain native plant species that are in the greatest decline, and the populations of birds and bugs that rely on those plants are also dwindling. It is important to choose wildflowers that are native to your area, being mindful of your area's conditions, such as how sunny or shady your yard is and how much natural moisture it gets.
Ground Covers
There are many ground covers available that spread quickly and can serve as lawn substitutes. These include vinca, sedum, and ajuga. And although it is actually a legume, clover acts like a ground cover and is especially beneficial to such pollinators as honey bees and butterflies.
Hardscapes
Attractive hardscaping is an excellent way to cut down on watering in your yard. Consider pavers, seating areas, decomposed granite, pea gravel, and/or wood chips.
Pesticide Alternatives
Upwards of 90% of flowering plants need pollinators such as bees in order to survive. Eliminating pesticides allows bees and other beneficial insects to thrive. Instead of using pesticides, let beneficial insect predators do the work of eliminating harmful pests. Consult a company such as Beneficial Insectary about purchasing bugs to control pests in your yard. For example, Green Lacewings do an excellent job of eliminating aphids. You can also plant a border of plants which will attract natural predators. Some of these plants are cosmos, dill, and coriander, among others. Alternatively, you might consider blasting pests off plants with your garden hose or hand-picking them off.
Trees
Some homeowners wanting to rebuild their lawns into more sustainable yards have encountered obstacles with HOA covenants and city codes which ban lawn modifications. In such an event, a homeowner can consider planting more trees rather than rewilding to prairie plants.Trees create a major climate benefit by taking in and storing carbon dioxide in their leaves, wood, and roots. They provide shade and absorb and release water into the atmosphere, cooling the earth. Larger, older trees account for most of the total carbon stored in mature forests.
Flowers and Other Plants for Additional Benefits
Marigolds are as beneficial to a garden as they are attractive. Although they attract bees, they repel wasps, beetles, and aphids.
Basil repels mosquitoes and other garden pests.
Lavender attracts bees and butterflies, but repels fleas, flies, and ants.
Lemongrass is a good deterrent for mosquitoes, hornets, and wasps but attracts honey bees.
Bees love mint, but mosquitoes and ants don't.
Rosemary is a deterrent for mosquitoes and spiders in the home as well as in the garden.
Petunias attract birds, butterflies, and bees, but deter aphids and other harmful bugs.
Bees love borage.
BARRIERS TO THE REWILDING MOVEMENT
Unfortunately, some who attempt to return private land to its more natural state where native plants and insects can thrive are criminalized by city ordinances or homeowners association edicts that favor the types of thirsty grass that leeches precious water resources. This makes it difficult if not impossible to change private property to make cities and towns more climate friendly.
SUCCESS STORIES
In a move to promote biodiversity, Minnesota has opted to incentivize residents for replacing turf grass, paying them to transform lawns into pollinator-friendly environments.
Nevada will ban the watering of decorative grass on medians, in apartment complexes, along streets, and on other properties beginning in 2027. The state also provides a rebate of $3 for every square foot of turf grass that is replaced by native desert plants.
California has also opted to prohibit businesses from watering purely decorative grass, beginning with government properties in 2027 and adding other commercial, institutional, and industrial properties in 2028.
In Denver, four large grass medians are being transformed from thirsty Kentucky bluegrass that used nine million gallons of water per year to native prairie grass, which will require considerably less. Many other Colorado towns and cities are following suit and replacing nonfunctional turf grass with wildflowers and native grasses.
In Broomfield, a Denver suburb, the city council recently passed stiff turf restrictions that allow only 30% or less of turf on the front and side yards of new homes and commercial buildings.
Fed up with their homeowners association's overreach in advising that their garden of native plants was a violation of the HOA bylaws, a Maryland couple decided to take the HOA to court. A state legislator then presented a bill banning HOAs from prohibiting pollinator plants, and the bill became state law in 2021.
WHAT DO I DO WITH NATIVE PLANTS IN THE WINTER?
You may choose to cut back your native plants in the winter once they are dormant, but birds, insects, and small mammals will love you if you don't. The untrimmed vegetation can provide needed food and shelter to these animals.
HOW TO CREATE ADDED BEAUTY IN NATIVE YARDS IN THE WINTER
Some fear that a native lawn will become unsightly during the cold months when the plants are not growing. Following are some suggestions for adding interest to the native yard during the winter:
Utilize string lights to highlight hardscape structures and create focal points. Lanterns placed on a table or hung from an arbor can create a warm glow over the surrounding area.
Make a topiary with grapevine balls or artificial trees. These can be decorated with string lights to highlight your porch or yard.
Hang grapevine wreaths decorated with bright berries that, in addition to dressing up your doors and windows, will provide treats for overwintering birds.
Decorate your porch or outdoor table with lanterns filled with string lights or fairy lights.
Adorn your evergreen trees with garlands of cranberries, nuts, popcorn, and small fruits like grapes and berries to add beauty and bring grateful birds and animals to your yard.
Create a celestial glow with ice luminaries, which you can make yourself. For more lasting illumination, use battery-operated tea lights or LEDs instead of candles.
A birdhouse or bird feeder painted in bright colors can do much to brighten a winter yard and will provide protection from the elements for area birds
It is important to mulch flower and tree beds in the winter to protect their roots. You can add another layer of protection as well as a decorative embellishment by topping the beds with pinecones, which will add texture to your yard.
If you live in an area where the temperatures remain below freezing during the day, you can set out some colorful ice orbs to change up the typical monochromatic appearance of a winter yard. Funnel water and food coloring into balloons and leave them outside overnight to freeze. Cut the balloons away from the ice and brighten your yard or walkway with the ice orbs.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Are we in the midst of a global environmental crisis? Most certainly. According to the United Nations, the world’s ecosystems are in danger of collapsing due to the actions and inaction of humans. The race to save the planet is one we appear to be losing. But as more of us become engaged in making restitution and effecting changes for the future rather than clinging to habits of the past, there is hope. It will take a mindful, concerted effort in myriad aspects of our lives and routines, and the choice about our lawns is just one of them. We all have a vital role to play in healing nature.