Prairie Works

“An old error is always more popular than a new truth.” -  German Proverb

In 2006 the American lawn reached a higher status among its citizens - it became the country’s largest irrigated crop. Between our golf courses, sports fields, town squares and residential lawns turfgrass now covers an amazing 40 million acres, or 80 percent, of non-farmed land. Once utilized by the rich as outdoor carpet and by atheletes for sport, turfgrass is now the norm for all residential lots, rural or urban, and the maintenance practices that come with it are now the standard protocol.

Lawns have their roots in the gardens of England but it was not until the post-World War II building boom that it reached its full power here in America. At that time, subdivisions sprouted up around major cities, forming suburbs. To match the prestigious look of larger estates, planners designed large lawns to attract clients. Thus, the goal of making private properties park-like began and fences were not erected to allow for open appearences in residential communities.

Although the 1/2-acre area of grass that is carefully manicured by its owner seams rather harmless, it is the large-scale ramifications of millions of such owners that prove to be devastating. In 2005 it took 238 gallons of water per person to irrigate 40 million acres of turfgrass, which are being mowed with 800 million gallons of small engine gasoline and kept green by 70 million pounds of chemicals.  All this costs an estimated 30 billion dollars annually (2005). The effects on water and air quality are staggering as are the 68,000 injuries sustained annually while mowing.  

Martin Quigley, an urban landscape specialist with The Ohio State University states this about lawns: “Turf maintenance is unquestionably the single most labor intensive component of the constructed landscape. Lawn upkeep, though expensive, requires few decisions and little risk. It is not attuned to the peculiarities of individual sites.” Nationwide, the same grass types are used regardless of soil type, climate, topography or regional customs. The turf industry has developed stronger more desirable strains in order to please the 80% of adults that maintain turfgrass.

Oddly enough, lawn care advertising confirms that most residential lawn care is a losing battle against climate, pests, traffic and other variables, unless more efforts, including watering and chemicals, are applied to the cause. The 70 million pounds of chemicals applied to turfgrass annually represent a higher concentration of chemical input than any other form of agriculture worldwide. In Ted Stienberg’s book, American Green: The Obsessive Quest for the Perfect Lawn, he calls the rise of the lawn “one of the most profound transformations of the landscape in american history.” 

Today, we mow most land that is mow-able and any area that is not mowed is considered “weeds.” Dead spots in lawns are dyed green to disguise imperfections. We spend an average of 40 hours per year mowing or pay services an average of $1,080 to mow for us. We pay higher water bills during hot summer weather to keep the grass alive and we spend used car prices for lawn mowers. Lawn clippings represent the largest agricultural byproduct in the U.S., which could support 20% of our nation’s fuel demands if converted to ethanol (David Blume). The Scotts® Miracle Gro Company (SMG on the New York Stock Exchange) now sells bird seed to supply birds with food that the lawn lacks…Odd indeed.

There are many alternatives to battle this consumptive and environmentally un-friendly practice, including: planting areas with native grasses and flowers, installing ”no mow” turf species such as Buffalo Grass, reducing the amount of lawn that is mowed, or promoting urban planners to develop cluster housing which consolidates housing allowing for more open space. The long term cost savings of utilizing lawn alternatives are staggering and should be encouragement alone. The real benefit, however, lies in the increase of habitat, stabilization of soil, use of local materials and weekends that you don’t have to worry about the lawn.

http://www.cca.qc.ca/pages/Niveau3.asp?page=depliant&lang=eng Interesting article on the history of the lawn

http://ohioline.osu.edu/sc177/sc177_14.html A reported study about the lawn: An Unrequited Love

http://www.epa.gov/greenacres/wildones/handbk/wo8.html The EPA Statement on lawns