Across the United States, manicured grass lawns blanket over 40 million acres posing serious threats to surrounding biodiversity and ecosystems (Audubon, n.d.). Grass lawns at schools and homes crowd out wildlife and native plants. They also require a lot of water, fossil fuels, and chemicals to maintain them.
American lawns consume:
Nearly 3 trillion gallons of water a year,
200 million gallons of gas (from mowing) and the noise from the mowers and string trimmers can be
70 million pounds of pesticides (NRDC, 2016).
Many lawns consist of just one species or “monocultures” (such as Bermuda grass from Africa) that is exclusively cultivated. A monoculture landscape lacks biodiversity to support beneficial pollinators like birds and butterflies.
Unsure how to reduce your impact whether at home or school? We’ve pulled together some eco-friendly tips on how and why native plants are good for us.
Tip 1: Start Small
Look for areas at your school or at home where the grass doesn’t grow in the first place – this can be steep banks, rocky outcroppings, shaded areas under the trees. Consider unused areas, such as front and side yards or buildings, where grass could be replaced with alternative plantings.
Once you’ve identified an area, spread a sheet of black plastic and place rocks over it. The weight will cause the grass to wither and the roots to dry up. After this, turn the top 12” of soil and use a hoe to break up the clumps. The area is now prepped and ready for native plants!
Tip 2: Choose Native over Exotic Plants
Go for a “natural” rather than formal look by choosing native plants that are conducive to your location (see “plant hardiness growing zone”). Native plants provide a host of benefits: they require low maintenance, help combat climate change, conserve water, and provide vital habitats for wildlife. Native plants create mutually beneficial relationships between the insects and bird populations. Exotic (non-native) plants disrupt these relationships, often harbor invasive pests, and require more maintenance.
Photo of blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium idahoense), a native groundcover
Invite Pollinators & Plant Native Species
Did you know that 35% of the world's food crops depend on animal pollinators to reproduce (USDA)? Pollinators perform crucial mechanisms to support ecosystems making it possible for our food and flowers to grow. Pesticides, drought, habitat destruction, and climate change threaten pollinators like insects and birds (Vassar, 2017). Consider supporting these important pollinators by planting native species such as perennials like coneflowers, cardinal flowers, milkweed, white wood aster, blue wild indigo, and Virginia bluebells. A landscape of native plants provides teachable moments where students can observe the interaction between plants and pollinators and learn the benefits of biodiversity.
Native flowers at Mt. Cuba botanical garden
When planting, it is important to consider the garden’s location, soil type, and potential native plants. While most flowers can grow in both sunny and shady locations, butterflies and other pollinators prefer wildflowers that grow best in full or partial sun. Also, depending on the location, the soil can be sandy and well-drained or more clay-like and wet, which will greatly affect the types of plants you can grow (FWS, 2003).
Tip 3: Ditch the Pesticides
Pesticides are chemicals designed to kill insects, plants, and fungi to create the ‘perfect’ lawn. However, they inadvertently pose a series of negative consequences. For instance, pesticide residue affects the quality and structure of the soil and leaches into the groundwater. Not to mention, it can be severely toxic for soil-living organisms. Lawn chemicals should also be avoided especially if there are children who play on it. The pesticide residue moves up through the food chain posing serious health consequences to a series of species including humans (Policy, USA).
Tip 4: Educate Others
Certify your school or yard with a sign that tells others about your habitat. Programs such as the National Wildlife Federation’s Wildlife Habitat, Audubon Mid-Atlantic, and the North American Butterfly Association offers a Butterfly Garden and Habitat Program. These programs provide excellent resources for how to certify your home or school garden. They also provide signage to educate others about the importance of biodiversity and native species.
National Wildlife Federation’s Certified Wildlife Habitat signs educate others about the importance of creating native habitat
A Call to Action
Our actions to improve native habitats can help to reduce the negative impacts of biodiversity decline. President Biden established a national goal to conserve at least 30% of US lands and freshwater and 30% of US ocean areas by 2030. This initiative is referred to as “30×30.” Our collective actions may seem small but together we can make positive change.
Additional Articles:
Article by Hannah Riegel, Boston College ‘22, Sustainability Intern at Boyer Sudduth Environmental Consultants.
Article printed in PAISBOA’s Friday Flyer Vol. XI, No. 6 - April 1, 2022
