 EnviroCitizen.org has discovered that some eco-conscious consumers are choosing an alternative to grass lawns. Grass lawns were not always practical. In fact it wasn't until the Industrial Revolution that grass lawns became practical for Americans. Before then, lawns were seen as a luxury that only the very wealthy, who could afford groundskeepers, possessed. The typical American home had a landscape that usually consisted of packed dirt with whatever wild grasses would grow or maybe a cottage garden that had a mix of flowers, herbs and vegetables.
Most grasses that are used in the United States are not native. Native US grasses weren't well-suited for a tidy, well-controlled lawn. In the early 1900's, the United States Department of Agriculture worked to find the right kind of grass (or combination of grasses) that would suit American climates and provide a more manicured appearance. Grasses from all over the world were tested and many grass blends were then marketed to the American public. Once Americans had grass, they were faced with the challenges of watering and trimming it. Now, we spend over seventeen billion dollars on outdoor home improvements annually. Although the problems of constant watering and trimming have been managed, a grass lawn remains a luxury idea that was once (and arguably still is) a symbol of status.
Grass lawns can be considered a waste of water and resources. If you add fertilizers or pesticides to your lawn, it also poses health and environmental risks. Consider two facts: 1. During the summer, watering lawns accounts for half of all of the water used in the country. 2. In one hour, a gasoline-powered mower will emit the same amount of pollution as forty cars in the same hour or as much as one car does when driving 650 miles. It's clear that grass lawns are not only a status symbol, but also a possible environmental problem.
So what's the alternative? Many Americans are switching to xeriscaping. Xeriscaping is a way of landscaping your property to reduce or eliminate the need for excessive water use or irrigation. The concept of xeriscaping suggests that you plant native plants so that the only water that your yard requires is the rain that falls from the sky. When you xeriscape your lawn, you hardly ever need to water. For example, if you live in the southwest, cacti are an excellent xeriscaping option. A cactus in the desert doesn't need to be watered by someone with a hose or a bucket because it has evolved to adapt to the hot, dry climate. If you live in a cooler environment, you could plant drought-resistant moss. Many mosses are very durable to use, don't require water (or only need very little water) and don't need to be mowed. Xeriscaping is significantly less work than maintaining a grass lawn!
EnviroCitizen.org has found that with xeriscaping you don't have to entirely give up the idea of a lawn. What a great eco-friendly alternative!
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