The Ecological Impact of Grassy Lawns

Of all the strange practices that dominate our culture, America's obsession with green, grassy lawns is the most ridiculous and perhaps the least sustainable. Once a commodity reserved for the ultra-wealthy, lawns have become symbols of a person's ability to control his or her surroundings. Consciously or subconsciously, we view lawns as a way of proving that a plot of land belongs to us--that it is "allowed" to serve no aesthetic or practical purpose besides making a statement of dominion.

Americans' obsession with maintaining a manicured lawn is an ecological and socioeconomic disaster, yet few people ever stop to consider any other alternative. They require gallons of petroleum for mowing, a constant input of petroleum-based fertilizers and pesticides, and massive amounts of energy for upkeep-- making them a huge contributing problem to global warming, air pollution, and water pollution.

They also suck up millions of gallons of water each year, which is a serious problem in areas suffering from drought. Some municipalities have even placed temporary or permanent bans on water sprinkler systems, because many people will continue pouring precious water into their lawns in spite of water shortages. When there is little fresh water available for drinking and showering, it is horrifying to consider that water is being poured uselessly into a crop that serves no practical purpose.

According to one study funded by NASA, grassy lawns are the largest irrigated crop grown in the United States, covering over thirty-two million acres. Considering the epidemic of famine and habitat destruction, this number is nothing short of alarming. Imagine thirty-two million acres being set aside for wildlife habitat, organic gardens, personal wind power generators, or home water catchment devices. If everyone in America gave up their lawns in favor of these alternatives, many ecological disasters could be mitigated.

Another reason that lawns are harmful to the environment is that they, by definition, encourage the growth and development of a single species of plant. Biodiversity is rapidly decreasing for both wild and domestic plant species, and this leads to a weak, unstable ecosystem, on both a microcosmic and macrocosmic scale. If more Americans felt safe to allow their lawns to host many species of plant and animal, we could minimize the detrimental effects of ecological globalization.

Unfortunately for people who rent their homes or who are bound by neighborhood agreements, an overgrown lawn or a large solar panel might not be a viable alternative to keeping a grassy lawn. However, the ability to transform a grassy lawn into a wildlife habitat or garden is still within reach of most Americans. Consider following the Xeriscape technique for low-water landscaping, or replacing your grassy lawn with a low-maintenance collection of fruit trees and flowering plants.

Our collectively unsustainable lifestyle can't be changed all at once, but moving from being a lawn-obsessed nation to a more sustainable alternative will mitigate many of the negative effects associated with the wasteful American lifestyle. If possible, consider adjusting your own property to accommodate more biodiversity, less waste of natural resources, and a more sustainable future.