It’s not about getting rid of lawns but what if we cut the area in half?

What is essential to understand about this movement towards alternative lawn care is that it is not an effort to eradicate the modern lawn but transition lawn care services and contemporary culture to be more supportive of the needs of our environment. It is mutually beneficial for all parties involved to search of a common middle ground. Lawn care companies will be able to expand their offerings and services and create new jobs relating to environmentally centric property care. Land owners will be provided a wider variety of services to choose from which could align more with their ideologies regarding the environment. Will this is beneficial to both providers and consumers, it is also beneficial to the integrity of the natural world which we rely on to support every aspect of lives on Earth.

The role of signage

Signage often plays a key role in alternative lawn care because it shows passer-by that this appearance is intentional and purpose driven. An overgrown lot can quickly become a native meadow with the simple inclusion of a sign. By demarcating natural areas and informing on lookers of what the purpose is changes the initial reaction and over all perception of a space which bucks the traditional norm in a less dramatic way then it normally would [27].

No Mow

  • No mow is the easiest alternative lawn care method to start. To do it you simply to nothing and let your property grow as it would. This increases biodiversity for plants which in turn increases the number of animal species.

  • While the easiest method, it is also perhaps one of the least effective in terms of rehabilitating the native environment. Without selecting what species are introduced, usually a no mow area is primarily non-native.

Xeriscaping

  • Xeriscaping is one of the least consuming forms of alternative landscaping. Choosing plant life based on drought-tolerance to reduce water usage has become popular in the Western United States where drought is common. Governments promote converting traditional lawn to xeriscaping with rebates.

  • Xeriscaping struggles to produce flowering plants due to the lack of water so pollinators would not benefit from this management style. It also does not provide much livable habitat although it is more than grass.

Gravel & Rock gardens

  • Rock and gravel gardens completely eliminate the planting of grass and thus any form of management and resource consumption. These can be pair with other forms of alt. lawn care in terms of plant choice.

  • Gardens like this are usually time consuming and expensive to create. They also do not provide additional habitat or food producers unless catered to be as such.

Ground cover

  • Clover lawns and other types of ground cover alternative have become popular in the pas years. They are low maintenance and resource consumers which makes them appealing to homeowners. In addition plant choice like clover or mint look very similar to lawn unless closely inspected so they still align with cultural norms.

  • To replace all turf with a different type of plant choice is time consuming and expensive which often deters people exploring this option. Additionally, there are not many companies who provide this type of service which means the homeowners will have to convert their property themselves.

POLLINATOR Garden

  • Plant choice depends on region, but providing more native flowering plants is incredibly beneficial for the environment. Ecosystems rely on pollinators to continue plant reproduction and by providing more flowering plants it helps bolster the local ecosystem.

  • Selecting and planting flowering plants and bushes is often time consuming and takes some initiative. To find what flowering species are native can be challenging depending on region

Meadows and Prairies

  • Meadows and prairies offer habitat and flowering plants in addition to a wide variety of food sources. They also tend to be self sufficient managing themselves requiring minimal effort for upkeep.

  • There are two ways to approach a meadowland or prairie. They can be unmanaged similar to no mow lawns and be full of non-native species or they can be managed and full of native species. Non-native meadows take less time and effort but are less beneficial to the environment. Managed meadow lands are much more beneficial for supporting native ecosystems but take much more time and effort to come to fruition.

NAtive planting

  • Native plantings help stimulate animal populations by providing more habitat and food sources for insects. Each region has keystone insects and plants which help convert the most energy from the sun to individuals. Depending on location, incorporating the most keystone plants as possible will act as a trophic ascent boosting the populations of every subsequent species.

  • Native planting takes time and effort both in the research needed to do it effectively and then actually carrying out the transformation of property. Using local nurseries and and green houses as resources should help this process. It can also be expensive to purchase the plants necessary but still not a lot in comparison with a lifetime of lawn maintenance.

tree incorporation

  • Trees support more life and biodiversity than any other form of planting. Incorporating more trees into residential property allows for more life to exist while not shaking the cultural boat of lawn care. Planting trees is also manageable for a homeowner to do independently in an afternoon.

  • Trees take time to mature and can be costly if purchased from a green house or nursery. They also block out natural light which can be both a positive and a negative. It is important that grasses do not run all the way to the base of the tree to prevent nutrient leaching.

Food forests & alternative gardening

  • Alternative gardening is good for both pollinators, insects, and homeowners. They are the most direct in their return and can be easy to build and incorporate while also reducing lawn space. The garden photographed above was made by a few boys in their early 20’s over the course of a couple weeks standing as a testament to the ease of construction.

  • While gardens may not stimulate the environment in the same way native plantings or another form of alternative care would, the do produce the most immediate and direct benefits for the homeowners. There can be a cost barrier especially if purchasing raised beds. However, beds can be DIY’d and still look professional as seen above.