Climate Change: Our manicured lawns

Discussion in 'Plants: Conservation' started by Acerholic, Sep 12, 2020.

  1. Acerholic

    Acerholic Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout Maple Society

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    I was reading recently about the water usage in the US and in Europe on our lawns and was very surprised at actually how much is used.
    Now in these times of heat waves and devastating fires around the world, is it time for the manicured lawn in our gardens to say goodbye.
    This link shows how much is used along with chemicals that do nothing but harm to the environment.

    Grass takes up 2% of the land in the continental US

    I removed my lawn in 2019 to plant trees and native plants. I am already seeing more wildlife in my garden because of this.
    My rain water harvesting system now lasts comfortably throughout the Summer for my trees and plants, causing no loss to treated supply water. My water bills are lower as an added bonus.

    I think it is now something for people to consider, hence why I have created this thread for some thought.
     
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  2. wcutler

    wcutler Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout 10 Years

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    Thanks for posting this, Acerholic. I was going to post a link from last weekend's Globe and Mail, but it's behind a paywall. Here is a yard maintenance service page on facebook that has a link to the article, but also has a lot of alternative ideas to look at.
    No Mow and Tidy Property Maintenance
     
  3. Acerholic

    Acerholic Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout Maple Society

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    @wcutler Good evening Wendy, from a lawn to a veg garden!!! Not sure if that will take off, but the point is well made. I like the section on ditches and culverts and how water is filtered so much better if left to grow naturely.
    I hope this thread just raises the question, that are the days of the neatly manicured lawn a thing of the past. IMO I hope so.
     
  4. Junglekeeper

    Junglekeeper Esteemed Contributor 10 Years

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  5. Margot

    Margot Renowned Contributor 10 Years

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    This photo shows one reason I love my little lawn. Not only is it a perfect place to run around in your bare feet or have a picnic but it also provides a visual contrast to the busyness of the surrounding gardens.

    It is misleading to couch the argument about lawns in completely environmental terms. Not every lawn needs to be a 'manicured' lawn. If not grass, what? Gravel? Pavers? What else can substitute for the useful and tranquil space with so little maintenance. I can't think of any groundcover that would fit the bill and I challenge anyone to name any that a child can play on as happily as on a lawn.

    The property where I grew up had an acre of lawn - a playground where my siblings and I constantly played. It was never fertilized or watered. In my garden, I've got an acre of plants, plants, plants. The 1000 square feet planted in grass is, in my opinion, the best choice aesthetically and practically. It receives no more water or fertilizers than the gardens around it - and it's a lot less work!

    Like so many discussions in which gardeners and homeowners engage, individual circumstances make an enormous difference in the ethics of how a gardener/homeowner chooses to allocate space in their gardens. While I think it is very important for people to know the possible negatives of sustaining a lawn, I regret that an informed personal decision has now devolved into the narrow realm of political correctness. I refuse to be made feel guilty for my well-thought-out choice to enjoy the benefits of a lovely little lawn.
     

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  6. Junglekeeper

    Junglekeeper Esteemed Contributor 10 Years

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    As I recall, this subject has come up a number of times in the past for people seeking an alternative to grass. Clover, moss, and thyme had been suggested, to name a few. Here is one such thread: Moss instead of Grass. Of course no one alternative will work in all situations, and even grass may be best. It all depends on where it's to be grown.
     
  7. Acerholic

    Acerholic Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout Maple Society

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    @Margot. Have to agree with you Margot, the lawn was a perfect place also for my children and grandchildren when growing up to play on.
    No one should feel guilty in any way about having a lawn in their garden and yes it is the perfect accompliment for a flower or shrub border etc etc.
    But I wonder if these days as Junglekeeper posted there are alternatives to reduce the water and chemicle usage in our gardens !!!??
    This thread was to put it out there, for people to consider these alternatives only.

    My wife and I love your photo very much btw.
     
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  8. Acerholic

    Acerholic Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout Maple Society

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    I thought this was a good alternative to anyone wanting a green area. OK its not for the large lawn. But worth considering.....?
    Chamomile lawns
     
  9. wcutler

    wcutler Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout 10 Years

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    Also, on that Chamomile page, they mention "Chamomile lawns tolerate only occasional light pedestrian traffic, and become patchy when walked on excessively."
    It doesn't sound like it would hold up well to evening soccer games with the family, or even evening picnics. But for big expanses where no-one even walks, it could even look nice.
     
    Last edited: Oct 4, 2020
  10. Acerholic

    Acerholic Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout Maple Society

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    @wcutler I do agree Wendy, it is perfect for a family area and far better than these new artificial lawns that are springing up everywhere these days.
    But perhaps it's time for the 'manicured' bit to dissapear!!?? And a more natural look to take it's place, with wild flowers part of these areas !!??
     
  11. wcutler

    wcutler Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout 10 Years

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    This came up on my Facebook feed today, specifically for prairie plants, but I would expect every location to have its set of plants that do a better job than lawn grass of helping to control soil erosion and flooding.
    https://www.oakgov.com/water/resour...cation/native_plant_root_system_schematic.pdf
     
  12. Acerholic

    Acerholic Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout Maple Society

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    Lawns are disappearing in the surrounding area where I live, but sadly it is for hard parking areas to allow cars off the roads to charge their electric batteries and not for native plants. Also there is a noticeable increase in artificial lawns on the rise.
     
  13. wcutler

    wcutler Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout 10 Years

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    They have the shortest roots of all (are they even water permeable or is their effect the same as for hard paving?).
     
  14. Margot

    Margot Renowned Contributor 10 Years

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    Is that 2 steps forward and 1 step back or 1 step forward . . .
     
  15. Acerholic

    Acerholic Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout Maple Society

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    Definitely Margot !!!
     
  16. Acerholic

    Acerholic Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout Maple Society

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    Just the same sadly. Just looks like real grass. Might as well be concrete.
     
  17. wcutler

    wcutler Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout 10 Years

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    A friend just sent me a link to an article about that.
    Why fake grass is far from green in ways you might not guess
    But it's not just in Britain and not just for lawns that the use of artificial turf is so widespread. From the article: "There are between 12,000 and 13,000 artificial fields in use in the U.S."

    It's unfortunate that we're not very good at figuring out consequences of our bright ideas that seem like such a good idea to address a particular situation, and it's only down the road after we've invested so much money and life-style change that we realize the impacts of what we've done.
     
  18. Acerholic

    Acerholic Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout Maple Society

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    Over here ATM the grass is a golden sandy brown. But it's Summer and that's how it should look. I do like the new attitude of letting the grass grow and not mowing. The insects love it and tbh there is a worrying shortage of all insects these days.
    So to have the artificial lawn as Wendy has stated, is NOT green at all.
     

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