Reduce or Replace Your Lawn
Summary: Maintaning grass puts a strain on our environment and natural resources, try out these alternatives!
Description
Individual property owners can make an important contribution to the restoration of our ecosystem by growing less lawn grass, or replacing the grass with native plants. There are several approaches to reducing the environmental damage done by lawns and lawn care practices.
Maybe you want to engage a more ecological landscaper to mow and clean up? Maybe even one who doesn't use fossil fuels? Maybe you're looking for a redesign for your garden so there will be more pollinator plants, less poison ivy and other invasives?
Deep Dive
Give Lady Fern Farm a call. Lady Fern Farm consults and is specialized in native pollinator plants.
Visit the Eco Landscaping Association (ELA) Directory and type MA in the State search box, and any specialties you are looking for. There are many ecologically educated landscapers in the neighborhood. The ELA educates them and holds them to high standards.
Steps to Take
- Add other short plants to your lawn including other plants that will look green when the turf grass is brown. Popular lawn companion plants include Clover, Self Heal, Violets.
- Replace lawn area that is not needed for play space with a native plant garden.
- Stop applying as much water (yes, you read that right), fertilizer, pest control chemicals. This will keep pollutants out of the air, water, and soil. The lawn will adopt the normal life cycle of grass. It will be green in rainy seasons and brown in dry, hot weather. Lawn chemicals pollute our rivers and lakes, and not watering will take pressure off our drinking water supply.