Lawn
Table of Contents
Introduction
Lawns have become a staple of modern landscaping, symbolizing neatness, order, and often, a reflection of cultural status. Originating from European aristocratic estates, expansive and meticulously maintained grassy areas were once exclusive indicators of wealth and prestige. Today, however, traditional lawns come with significant environmental costs.
Turf grasses require excessive water, fertilizers, and constant maintenance, making them unsustainable for biodiversity and local ecosystems. By rethinking how we use our yard space and reducing lawn areas, we can promote healthier environments, conserve resources, and support local wildlife—all without sacrificing beauty or usability.
With the right information, small changes can make a big impact!
Environmental Impact of Lawns
Traditional lawns, while visually appealing, are environmentally harmful. Turf grasses demand an immense amount of water, contributing to overuse of this precious resource, especially in areas prone to drought. Maintaining a pristine lawn also often involves chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides, which not only deplete the soil but also contaminate water supplies, harm local wildlife, and damage ecosystems. Furthermore, lawns act as ecological deserts, providing little to no habitat or food sources for pollinators, birds, or other wildlife, thus reducing overall biodiversity.
In the United States, lawns cover an estimated 40 million acres, making turfgrass the largest irrigated crop in the country. This vast area not only consumes immense amounts of water and chemicals but also fragments habitats, leading to population fragmentation for wildlife which causes a whole cascade of problems. Continuous expanses of lawn create barriers that restrict movement, making it harder for species to find food, mates, or shelter. Habitat fragmentation is a significant driver of biodiversity loss, as it isolates populations, reduces genetic diversity, and increases the vulnerability of species to extinction.
Benefits of Less Lawn
Reducing lawn space brings substantial environmental benefits. Water conservation is a key advantage, as native plant alternatives generally require far less irrigation than turf grasses.
With less reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, the chemical footprint of your yard is reduced, protecting local waterways and wildlife.
A more diverse landscape promotes biodiversity, creating habitats for pollinators, birds, and other species. Additionally, less lawn means lower maintenance, saving time and money, while improving the health of your soil with a variety of deep-rooted native plants.
5:20 minute video explaining the many downsides of lawns, as well as how outdated laws keep people trapped in the lawn care cycle, as well as tips on how to turn the tide.
Ways to Reduce Lawn Impacts
Landscaping Changes
Reducing Lawn Space
Transitioning from traditional lawns to more diverse, eco-friendly landscapes can be relatively simple and rewarding. Start by identifying areas that can be rewilded with native grasses, wildflowers, or other native plants. Even reducing lawn space by a small percentage can make a significant environmental difference. Create garden beds, pollinator zones, or plant trees to replace sections of lawn.
Reducing lawn area not only promotes biodiversity but also cuts down on time, water, and chemical use, making your space more sustainable and wildlife-friendly.
"Listening" to Your Lawn
If you don't know where to start, start paying attention to see what messages your garden and mother nature might be trying to send you. For example:
If you have a patch of grass that dies every single year, during drought and high temperatures, consider turning this area into a flower bed for drought-tolerant grasses and wildflowers that are known to enjoy full sun. Another solution may be to plant a shade tree in that location, to help reduce the surface temperature, and make the area more suitable for other plant species.
If a section of your grass frequently turns into a muddy mess, large puddle or even a small lake, then this could be the perfect location for water-loving species, or even a rain garden to help manage your rain water.
Sustainable Lawn Practices
For those who wish to maintain some lawn, adopting sustainable practices can reduce the environmental impact.
Consider using electric or manual mowers to cut down on fossil fuel consumption.
Limit or eliminate chemical fertilizers and pesticides, opting instead for organic alternatives.
Letting parts of the lawn grow longer can create microhabitats for insects and small animals.
You can also incorporate low-maintenance ground covers or mow less frequently to allow for natural growth, benefiting both the ecosystem and reducing upkeep.
Edible Alternatives
Historically humans have grown gardens of edible plants as close to their kitchens as possible. They have come and gone in popularity, usually reigniting in popularity around times of war or other public stressors. Climate change, pandemics, and other major issues interfere with supply chains. As many people explore the intersection of environmentalism and food security, an increasing number of people are turning back to the ancient tradition of growing their food close to home.
Kitchen gardens can be useful at home, on school grounds, at restaurants, and company kitchens or cafeterias.
Best of all is that you can combine the use of a kitchen garden with a compost pile, helping to close the loop on our food system, reducing nutrient loss, and protecting the environment with minimal effort, resources, or space.
Community Gardens
These in particular can benefit from reducing grass as much as possible, leaving some as walkways between raised beds or allotment plots. Otherwise alternatives such as mulch of rock can be used to reduce labor while increasing foot traction.
Trees for Food
Trees provide many incredible benefits, not least including their ability to provide edible nuts, fruit, flowers, leaves that can be eaten or used as biodegradable packaging, and sap which can be processed into syrups or sugars.
In addition to all this, flowering trees provide food and shelter for pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and bats. These in turn boost our crop yields, whether you have some patio pots with tomatoes or a whole field of food.
Permaculture & Sustainable Services
Not everyone has the time or physical ability to tend their own garden, but even going 100% grass-free won't be entirely maintenance-free. Fortunately a growing percentage of gardening services are now leaning towards or even specializing in
Law & Zoning Changes
If you live in a place where local laws, ordinances, or HOA rules force you to care for non-native lawns then your highest-impact option would be to focus on getting those rules changed for more modern and sustainable regulations.
Environmentalists & HOAs
Lawn vs. Garden: How To Stand Up To Your HOA For A Healthier Yard "When your HOA or neighborhood puts pressure on residents to have lawns, you can become an advocate for your climate victory garden."
Alternatives to Lawns
Biodiversity Boosters
For those seeking to move away from traditional lawns, there are numerous eco-friendly alternatives. Wildflower meadows, native plant gardens, and xeriscapes offer visually appealing, low-maintenance landscapes that support local biodiversity.
Rewilding sections of your yard can also create valuable habitats for pollinators and other wildlife. For smaller spaces, consider vertical gardens or ground covers that require less water and upkeep.
Each of these alternatives reduces the environmental burden associated with turf lawns, while adding beauty and ecological value to your outdoor space.
Water Wise Lawn Alternatives
Rain Gardens
These can be dug fairly easily and quickly, but there are some things to consider such as calling a hotline or similar precautions before you accidentally damage any underground infrastructure, and calculating an adequate depth and angle for your site which are covered on our rain garden page.
These pretty gardens are low maintenance, doing very well with native plant species to attract beneficial wildlife while providing benefits such as water purification for the whole community even the watershed.
Xeriscaping
By including drought tolerant plants and ground covers such as mulch, pebbles, or lava rock, you can create a pretty and biodiverse alternative to grass which requires very minimal care while increasing water security and food sources for wildlife.
Many people imagine sparse rocky terrain with unfriendly cacti an succulents, but you can also find pretty flowering plants, including bushes and wildflowers, even fluffy ornamental grasses for interest and variety.
Permeable Surfaces
In areas where flat ground is required, permeable pavement and similar surfaces might make more sense than compactable lawn. Permeable surfaces help promote a healthy water cycle, by allowing rain water and snow melt to seep into the ground, replenishing our groundwater. By contrast, grassy lawns tend to become compacted by each time people walk over the grass, including riding or pushing mowers or other equipment. Over time this prevents rain water from seeping in, adding to pollution run off and local flooding, as well as future water scarcity.
The Case for Native Grasses
Replacing turf with native grasses offers numerous environmental and practical benefits. Native grasses are well-adapted to local climates and soil, requiring far less water, fertilizers, and maintenance compared to non-native turf grasses. They also support local biodiversity, providing habitats and food sources for native insects, birds, and other wildlife. By choosing native grasses, homeowners can create a more sustainable and resilient landscape that thrives with minimal intervention while contributing positively to the local ecosystem.
Prairie grasses tend to have deeper roots than turf grass, improving soil health, reducing run off, and even helping nature recovering better after wildfires.
Oceana
Australia
Roadways
Managing Roadsides and Rights-of-Way for Pollinators "With more than 10 million acres of land in roadsides in the United States alone, transportation rights-of-way are a significant, yet often overlooked resource for pollinator conservation. In landscapes denuded of natural areas by agriculture or urbanization, roadsides, utility easements, and other rights-of-way are an increasingly important component of regional habitat networks. They can support native vegetation, provide refuge for wildlife and connect fragmented habitat."
Groups & Organizations
International
r/fucklawns "Monoculture lawns must come to an end and bring forward the biodiverse lawns era!"
Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation "is an international nonprofit organization that protects the natural world through the conservation of invertebrates and their habitats. As a science-based organization, we both conduct our own research and rely upon the most up-to-date information to guide our conservation work. Our key program areas are: pollinator conservation, endangered species conservation, and reducing pesticide use and impacts."
North America
USA
Missouri
Camp Monarch "is a newly founded nonprofit committed to addressing the loss of vital habitats for the Monarch Butterfly and many other species across North America. Right now, we are a small but dedicated team of passionate individuals determined to take action for wildlife and biodiversity. Our work begins by laying the foundation for a network of habitat restoration projects, with a focus on empowering landowners to be part of the solution.
As we get started, we’re recruiting founding members who share our vision of restoring fragmented ecosystems and reconnecting wildlife corridors. Our work may still be in its early stages, but we know that with the right people, every small step will lead to big impact."
Oregon
Food Not Lawns "Welcome to the official site for the international movement of folks who want to grow Food Not Lawns!"
Maps
International
Climate Victory Gardens "Planting a garden has the power to change the world. Climate Victory Gardens are part of the climate solution by restoring soil health to draw down carbon. Everyone can grow a garden, and everyone can take meaningful action on the climate crisis."
North America
Climate Victory Gardens "Planting a garden has the power to change the world. Climate Victory Gardens are part of the climate solution by restoring soil health to draw down carbon. Everyone can grow a garden, and everyone can take meaningful action on the climate crisis."
USA
PIRG: Interactive Map of Lawn Mower and Leaf Blower Policies "This interactive map shows which cities, states and companies have taken action to cut pollution and noise from gas-powered lawn equipment."