Almost every home in America is adorned with grass. The short, supposedly green but often yellowish–brown plant takes over any free space as the most irrigated crop in America, according to legacy.geog.ucsb.edu.
The popularization of grass lawns dates back to the medieval castles of France and Britain; the lack of trees and other greenery left the vision of palace guards free of any obstacles in their lookout for hostile visitors. Closely shorn lawns emerged in 17th century England which were distinct from the village “commons” that still existed for animal grazing. The owners of these areas largely relied on human labor for their upkeep, according to emeraldlawns.com and planetnatural.com. Due to the absence of any machinery to make it easier, only the very wealthy could afford to hire the necessary help to preserve the perfect lawn; this established the grass lawn as a symbol of class and wealth. Today, over 80% of American homes have lawns, according to greenamerica.org.
The average household in California spends about $335 to $585 annually to water their lawn, according to nrdc.com. Across the country, lawns consume nearly three trillion gallons of water, 200 million gallons of gas via mowing and 70 million pounds of pesticides each year. Additionally, with grass depleting the soil of nutrients for other plants, traditional lawns provide practically no habitat for pollinators and other insects that contribute to a healthy backyard ecosystem.
With the understanding that grass lawns can be quite detrimental to the creation of a thriving garden, there is a movement towards replacing those grass–covered areas with something more sustainable. This is commonly referred to as the “no–mow movement.” Synthetic turf is a grass alternative made from polyethylene with an estimated shelf life of about 10 to 20 years, according to lawnstarter.com. Although artificial grass requires little to no maintenance and is always healthy–looking, it is not the best of landscaping choices. Fake turf is an easy breeding ground for bacteria, and fragments of the turf often make their way into the soil and contribute to pollution via microplastics. They also get extremely hot, which makes them impractical for human or animal use.
Fortunately, there are better alternatives that still achieve the green lawn look without causing health issues and first–degree burns. Moss and shamrock lawns create a spread that appears grass–like while being both lower maintenance and more environmentally friendly. Food gardens are also versatile options that turn an often useless space into a functional one. Alternatively, for those who appreciate a colorful aesthetic, flower gardens add personality while providing a safe place for pollinators and other insects.
Moss is a small, rootless plant with tiny, thread–like structures called rhizoids which can attach to rocks, soil and trees, proving moss to be extremely adaptable, according to britannica.com. Aiding in soil erosion and water economy for vegetation, moss lawns are very eco–friendly. Moss installation tends to be more expensive than grass installation, with a larger cost upfront, but it levels out as the lawn becomes mature since moss does not require mowing or very much water.
Similarly, clovers sprout flowers called strawberry clovers which are highly attractive to bees and other pollinators. Clover lawns need less water, little to no mowing and are very heat and drought–tolerant. This option tends to be even cheaper than grass. Although they require reseeding about every two to three years and share an intolerance for heavy foot traffic with moss, they are overall cheaper, better for the environment and only take about a week to germinate.
On the other hand, a wildflower garden is a great choice for a visually appealing garden which provides a good area for pollination. This option, however, does require more research as the type of soil and amount of sunlight in the planting area will determine the best flowers to plant. Flexibility is also something that comes with this because along with available seed mixes for one’s climate and soil type, one could purchase individual seeds of flowers that work well with their colors, heights and fragrances. These gardens also provide an opportunity to further biodiversity and protect native species.
Although lavish grass lawns are no longer considered a flaunting of wealth and class, their history of being so still survives in the maintenance and money it requires. With all the different options available that not only benefit the ecosystem but also the homeowner, grass is no longer needed for a beautiful garden. There is also no need to implement artificial turf, for doing so is only taking a step backward. With the option of filling a garden with flowers, one of many green covers or useful plants like fruits, vegetables and herbs, grass is just an archaic image of the past, and it’s time to move past the harmful plant.
