Lawn Tips: Pride In Your Lawn Reflects Good Environmental Stewardship

(HIT) - You take pride in your lawn, investing considerable time and effort to maintain it. You know it increases your property value and that its aesthetic appeal reflects on you as a homeowner. Then you read a few articles that question whether landscapes should include much—if any—turfgrass lawns.

Unfortunately, the scientifically-based benefits of healthy lawns are not widely understood, and are appreciated even less. Perhaps this is why some individuals, after reading articles in The Wall Street Journal or USA Today, have invested significant dollars in alternatives, such as so-called "native plants," or even the latest fad of "artificial turf." Meanwhile, the vast majority of homeowners choose to maintain landscapes comprised mostly of lawns, a tradition with significant environmental benefits that everyone should approach guilt-free as good stewards of the environment. (See "Turfgrass Benefits" chart.)

Going Native?

An article published in USA Today is somewhat typical of the type information too often presented without scientific basis. It focused on a highly controversial alternative to turfgrass: native plants. The article cited several small companies that advocate replacing turfgrass lawns with so-called "native plants."

As well-intended as this "back-to-nature" philosophy is meant, it has significant financial and environmental drawbacks, which the general public needs to be aware of in order to make environmentally and financially wise decisions. Set-up costs for one landscape architect to convert a lawn to what the USA Today article referred to as "natural landscape" was nearly $5,000, and that's just the beginning, according to Kirk Hunter of The Lawn Institute, a non-profit association. "The total cost of converting from turfgrass to all native plants," said Hunter, "includes these dollar and environmental costs: water, pesticides and fertilizers will still be required, along with mulching, weeding, trimming and tilling which create mountains of waste (a lawn's grass clippings should be recycled back onto the lawn)."

‘Natives' allow significantly more run-off than lawns and do little to control erosion, whereas the thatch and root systems of a lawn prevent erosion and help purify even rainwater. Lawns serve as a fire barrier but ‘natives' can be a potential fuel for wildfires. High growing ‘natives' create a serious security risk by blocking visibility, and a number of potential health hazards such as increased pollen and a habitat for disease-carrying mice, rats, mosquitoes, ticks and even bees and wasps.

In a balanced landscape, good old grass cannot be equaled as a low-cost play surface that controls erosion while it cools and cleans our environment. Newer grass varieties require less water, grow shorter and slower and out-compete pests, thereby reducing their need for inputs of the past.

Ironically, the USA Today article reported, "One planned community on Florida's panhandle, Seaside, doesn't even allow homeowners to plant lawn grass because it's not a native plant" --The Lawn Institute has documentation that the Seaside community management purchased and installed more than 20 pallets of bermudagrass sod in the common areas!

Artificial Turf?

An article previously published in The Wall Street Journal addressed the issue of what it called, "Fake Grass," in a light hearted manner, referring to artificial turf for home lawns as "A Toupee for Your Lawn." In reality, there is nothing light-hearted about its cost in terms of dollars and the environment, as well as safety.

The plastic grass must be installed on a gravel/sand base, driving up the initial installation costs. Maintenance must include reoccurring and regular disinfectant scrubbing to control molds and infection-causing bacteria. Absent a natural root structure, the plastic grass offers no environmental benefits and can increase energy use because it becomes a heat-collector. In a 12-hour study of surface temperature comparisons, a Brigham Young University research scientist recorded synthetic turf measuring 86.5º F hotter than natural turf and even 37º F higher than asphalt.

Regarding safety, residential lawns often serve as a mini sports field. The danger of replacing natural grass with artificial turf is best demonstrated in a 12004 survey of NFL players which revealed 85% preferred playing on natural grass; 91% felt artificial turf is more likely to contribute to injuries; and 85% believed it was more likely to shorten their careers.

Fortunately for the environment, most people are choosing to install live-growing turfgrass around their homes. To find out more about natural grass, lawns and related environmental topics, visit: www.lawninstitute.com.

Turfgrass Benefits Functional Property values increase Soil erosion control Dust prevention A 2,500 sq. ft. lawn produces enough oxygen for a family of four U.S. lawns remove 5% of the carbon dioxide in our atmosphere Rain water entrapment, filtering & groundwater recharge Solar heat dissipation Glare reduction Organic chemical/pollutant entrapment and degradation Air pollution control Nuisance animal/pest reduction Fire prevention Security/visibility Environmental protection Recreational Low cost surfaces Physical health Mental health Safety cushion Spectator entertainment Aesthetic Beauty Quality of life Social harmony Community pride Complements trees and shrubs in the landscape Published in the Journal of Environmental Quality, research by J.B. Beard, Ph.D. (former member of the department of soil and Crop Sciences, Texas A&M University), and R.L. Green Ph.D. (member of the Department of Botany and Plant sciences, University of California-Riverside)