Why it’s time to ditch traditional lawns for sustainable landscaping

Suburban America, and even some parts of urban America, has always been defined by its white picket fences, apple pie and, of course, emerald-green lawns, perfectly mowed in house after house.

But this idyllic dream hides a growing ecological nightmare; these lawns are an environmentally disastrous drain on the public water supply, habitat and wildlife, and even the pocketbooks of regular homeowners.

It might be time to begin embracing sustainable landscaping, before it’s too late.

At its core, sustainable landscaping revolves around harmonizing green spaces with native flora, a practice that inherently supports local wildlife. By opting for plants naturally adapted to the region’s climate and soil, homeowners create havens for birds and other animals. These native species not only provide crucial habitats but also bolster biodiversity, essential for maintaining resilient ecosystems in an ever-changing world.

Most lawns use only a single grass species. This leaves what are effectively ecological dead zones. The green lawn reduces biodiversity, which means fewer bugs and birds visit to help pollinate nearby plants and flowers, which chokes out life and nutrition from the soil and eventually, from the neighborhood itself. 

Insects like bees, butterflies and beetles — critical pollinators and prey for larger species ¬— struggle to survive in these sterile grass monocultures that offer little food or shelter. Without these insects, birds lose a key food source, especially during nesting season. A mother chickadee, for example, needs thousands of caterpillars to raise a brood. But caterpillars only thrive on native plants. When yards are dominated by turfgrass and exotic ornamentals, the local food web begins to collapse.

This habitat loss ripples up the food chain. Foxes, squirrels, chipmunks, and deer rely on complex plant life for food, cover and breeding grounds. Traditional lawns fragment the landscape, replacing vital thickets and understory with flat expanses that support little biodiversity.

Even suburban predators, such as owls and hawks, struggle when the small mammals they hunt become scarce.

In addition to destroying our environment, this process also weakens the initial goal of having a beautiful lawn by killing the nutrients in the soil, making it harder for the transplanted grass to grow, demanding more water from our aquifers, which are already nearly wrung dry.  

Water scarcity concerns are not foreign, making sustainable landscaping a pragmatic choice. By selecting drought-resistant plants and employing water-efficient irrigation methods, such as drip systems and rainwater harvesting, residents significantly reduce their reliance on municipal water supplies. This not only conserves a precious resource but also mitigates runoff pollution, ensuring cleaner waterways and healthier aquatic ecosystems.

Traditional lawn care often involves heavy use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, which can adversely impact soil health and pose risks to human health and wildlife. Homeowners also must worry about this from the lens of its impact on local waterways.

In contrast, sustainable practices emphasize natural soil amendments like compost and organic matter, fostering nutrient-rich soils that support vigorous plant growth without synthetic inputs. Integrated pest management techniques further minimize pesticide use by leveraging natural predators and cultural practices, ensuring pest control without compromising environmental integrity.

The benefits of sustainable landscaping extend beyond aesthetics. Dense, healthy lawns act as effective filters, trapping dust, pollutants and carbon dioxide while releasing oxygen — a vital contribution to improving local air quality.

Moreover, practices such as composting and mulching enrich soil structure, promoting microbial activity and enhancing its ability to sequester carbon — a crucial strategy in combating climate change.

Individually, each sustainable landscape may seem modest in scale, but collectively, they form a formidable force for environmental change. As more residents adopt these practices, the cumulative effect reverberates through neighborhoods, parks and public spaces, fostering a shared commitment to environmental stewardship and resilience.

Transitioning to sustainable landscaping begins with understanding local soil and climate conditions, selecting appropriate native plants and adopting water-efficient irrigation practices. Regular soil testing and thoughtful plant selection are pivotal in creating thriving, low-maintenance landscapes.

We only have one environment. Together, we can preserve it as a place where our families can live, grow and play safely and healthily for decades.