The Impacts of the American Lawn

Americans have been obsessed with their lawns for centuries. It’s no surprise that over 40 million acres of land are your typical American Lawn. Lawns, routed in a long history, symbolize the American Dream. Although there is undoubtedly a purpose of lawns in the American home, the impacts of mass turf grass is rather negative. 

Where did it all begin?

Of course, there was a time when America didn’t have “lawns.” The early landscape of North America was not perfect, lush, and manicured turf grass but they have been around for quite a while. American lawns date back to the 17th century when early European colonists began replacing the landscape with European garden styles, which generally included large fields of grass.

By the 18th and 19th centuries, the lawn was an essential element for landowners. Over a short period of time, the natural ecosystem was replaced with cities and suburbs. The American lawn became a symbol of suburban life, middle-class values, and a status symbol. It was the American Dream. As a result, homeowners dedicated more and more resources and time to maintaining their lawns. Fast forward to the present time, and the lawn is just as much of a status symbol in the suburbs as it was over a century ago. 

Impacts of the American Lawn

Lawns increase greenhouse gases

The majority of lawn equipment (lawn mowers, weed whackers, and leaf blowers) are two-stroke gasoline-powered engines. Two-stroke engines are less fuel efficient and emit a high level of pollutants. These engines actually are found to release more emissions than an idling car or truck. Since moving into the suburbs, I can’t think of a time when I sat outside during the summer and didn’t hear the sounds of a small engine at work. That, multiplied by millions of Americans, is greatly contributing to increasing greenhouse gases.

Lawns require lots of water

Turf grass is the largest irrigated crop and demands ALOT of water to stay lush and green. According to an estimate from the EPA, lawns use about 9 billion gallons of water a day across America. The excessive use of resources is unsustainable, and in fact, many places, have water bans or frequency restrictions to lessen the demand on the local water supply. However, that is not enough, as more and more natural areas become developed into urban and suburban areas.

Lawns Use Harmful Chemicals

Having lush green grass is not as easy as just mowing it a few times a month. The idealized perfect lawn requires chemicals and fertilizers to maintain the pristine. While not all pesticides are created equal, many pesticides, including neonicotinoids persist in the environment after initial application and become an issue for non-targeted species. This leftover residue eventually gets back to the pollinators and can have determinantal effects. Pesticides and fertilizers also harm the microorganisms in the soil that are crucial for maintaining soil health and balance, as well as growing vegetation. It’s estimated that homeowners use over 3 million tons of fertilizer a year on their lawns. The use of chemicals makes their way to local bodies of water via runoff harming ecosystem health. 

What can we do?

The best way to prevent the impacts of the American lawn is to simply not have a lawn. While that’s unrealistic for many (me included- hello dog and toddler) reducing the amount of lawn you have is a great solution. Converting lawns into native garden beds will help provide habitats for wildlife. Planting native grass alternatives is another beneficial solution if you choose to have grass. In the meantime, simply reduce the amount you use your lawn equipment and try not to use chemical pesticides and fertilizers. While your lawn may have a few “weeds” it is better for the health of the local ecosystem and yourself.