Suburban lawns are a powerful symbol of American dreams, and many people can’t even imagine a homeless landscape. Despite the lush appearance of the broad green grass, the grass has some serious ecological effects.
Turfgrass is a monoculture that covers more than that Three times It’s about the same area as US food crops. Maintaining a large-scale monoculture presents pollution and health risks with fertilizers and herbicides Chemicals And the lawn mower, and mostly use it one third All living water.
Reducing or eliminating lawn lawns is the most sustainable choice. However, if a turfgrass lawn alternative is not working for your situation, you may be able to grow an alternative lawn.
Traditional lawn
Lawns are defined as “area of short cutting grass.” Traditional lawns achieve a uniform look by using one or more similar turfgrass species.
Narrow-foliated grass seeds that tolerate pedestrians and mowing heights can become turfgrass. Common species in a particular area depend on climate, soil, and light conditions. In the US, these are the most common varieties of bluegrass, ryegrass and fescue. Bermuda grass grows in warmer parts of the country.
Alternative Lawn
Many alternatives to lawns, such as low-growth ground and pastures, are sold as alternative lawns. Pastures are primarily grass and part of it Ground coverlike chamomile, can be trimmed. But technically, another lawn is a possible combination of ground cover species (including grass) that can withstand several pedestrians. A grass-free mix may also be called herbal lawns.
Oregon State University developed some of its first alternative lawns. They included grass mixtures in lawns and hardwood plants that withstand low-growth droughts. These mixes It offers the same functionality (providing open flat space for walking and playing) in the landscape as a traditional grass. Low maintenance – Requires mowing every 3 weeks, only once or twice a seasonal water is required. And they were sustainable – they did not receive fertilizers or pesticides during the multi-year testing period. They make sustainable alternatives to traditional lawns, but do not provide the tidy look of the golf course.
Alternative Lawn Options
Today there are several mixes of commercially available herbal lawns and alternative lawns from businesses like Pro Times and Sunmark.
Gardeners can also experiment with the mix themselves Guidelines Developed by OSU. Whether you use a commercial mix or a home mix mix, you can adjust the composition by seeding with new seeds each year.
Look at the law
Whether you want to plant a lawn or alternative lawn alternative, check out the local code and the rules of the homeowner’s association.
Despite the environmental benefits of removing grass, many communities have surprisingly strict and concrete Rules You need traditional grass. You may have to engage in community activities before planting. But you may also get lucky – especially in many communities, especially California and Southwesthas an incentive program that rewards homeowners who grow things other than grass.
Editor’s Note: Originally published on October 8, 2019, this article was updated in June 2025.
