The Harm of Grass Lawns

There are many things that we have just to follow the crowd. For many people, one of these things is grass lawns. Grass requires constant maintenance: mowing, watering, fertilizing, all for the perfect lawn. It has turned into a sort of competition to see who can have the greenest, most uniform lawn in the neighborhood. While those who have perfect lawns may be admired by some, the people with the yellow, weedy lawns get the most attention. And no one wants to be “that person.” No one wants to get angry emails from their neighbors. No one wants to get warning letters from their HOA saying that they must make their lawn look better. Today, however, I would like to encourage you to be “that person.”

Not only do grass lawns take a lot of work to maintain, but this maintenance also negatively impacts the environment. Most lawn mowers are powered by gas that, when consumed, releases greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere. Additionally, grass requires more water than native plants, increasing water usage. Finally, fertilizers used on grass lawns often end up in streams and other bodies of water. The excess nutrients in the water can cause algae blooms and, eventually, fish death.

The grass itself also negatively impacts the environment as it takes away from the area in which native plants can grow. Without enough native plants, native animals do not have enough food or space in which they can live. In fact, there are many native animals, such as the zebra swallowtail, that rely on one specific native plant to survive. Native plants and animals are important because they provide us with countless ecosystem services, saving us both time and money. For example, plants can have medicinal benefits, and animals can be beneficial to crops. While it is hard to quantify the true value of these native species, it has been estimated that pollinators alone contribute to the production of between $235 and $577 billion worth of food around the world each year.

So, plant some more native plants in your yard. Let your grass grow just a few inches taller. Keep some weeds in your grass. Gradually expand your efforts to a larger area of your yard. Your HOA or neighbors may push back, but make sure they understand why you are changing your lawn. Inform them. Challenge them. Encourage them to follow your lead and make changes to how they view grass lawns too.