Why do we need to replace them exactly? Last year they didn't do well but most people didn't water them at all, so I don't see how they are negative. Replacing them with flower beds etc, is it really environmentally friendly?
Grass can be useful for lots of wildlife and it's only when people constantly fertiliser and water it that it might have negative impacts on the environment. Grass is also the only plant most non gardeners have. I'd rather that then the constant paved over gardens everywhere.
I suppose the question was asked by the OP because on another thread it was suggested that maybe trying to persevere with a troublesome lawn in the Texas climate wasn't a good thing.
Same here. But the bees like the replacement, although the birds aren't so keen. Plus as previously stated, anything too large gets in the way of the drying washing.
I don't think it's a matter of replacing lawns, but adjusting how we care for them, and what we're planting for lawn areas. I am fascinated by xeriscaping, and it's gaining traction (finally) in the western US. I had planned to plant a creeping thyme lawn in my backyard; it's drought resistant and doesn't need mowing, plus it's beneficial to pollinators. Instead, I've decided to try a wildflower meadow, which is small enough that I can cut it by hand with an old-fashioned weed wacker/scythe. I've used a reel mower to cut grass on smaller lawns, too. I still have large expanses of grassy areas and I have no intention of getting rid of them. They help prevent erosion and as previous posters noted, are beneficial to certain wildlife. I just try to mix drought-tolerant or native grass species in areas of use and mow sparingly with a gas mower. I'm also not so picky that weeds need to be constantly pulled; if it's green, it can stay. My neighbors across the street are lawn fanatics who are horrified by the way I let dandelions grow unhindered throughout my green spaces, and that I only mow my pastures once or twice each summer and my lawn areas maybe twice per month; they would rather see a lawn that looks like a golf course. By August their lawn is dry and dead, and mine is usually green and thriving, albeit a little unkempt.
New England, USA
Metacomet soil with hints of Woodbridge and Pillsbury
I make no apology for cultivating a weed free beautiful lawn. I love it. My borders are choc full of wildlife friendly plants, I have loads of nesting birds every spring. Bees, hoverflies, wasps, and every other insects frequent the garden. I have a plant in flower every month of the year so nectar is always available. Hedgehogs visit. I have a great wildlife pond that has loads of frogspawn every year. Any hard landscaping is permeable so no solid concrete. My garden is really wildlife friendly so I wont be lawn shamed.
The London Plan's 'Urban Greening Factor' policy attempts to categorise different types of cover, the higher the score, the higher the score. "The Urban Greening Factor is a tool to evaluate the quality and quantity of urban greening. It enables major developments to demonstrate how they have included urban greening as a fundamental element of site and building design in order to meet London Plan Policy G5 Urban greening".
Surface cover type
Factor
Semi-natural vegetation (e.g. trees, woodland, species-rich grassland) maintained or established on site.
1
Wetland or open water (semi-natural; not chlorinated) maintained or established on site.
1
Intensive green roof or vegetation over structure. Substrate minimum settled depth of 150mm.
0.8
Standard trees planted in connected tree pits with a minimum soil volume equivalent to at least two thirds of the projected canopy area of the mature tree.
0.8
Extensive green roof with substrate of minimum settled depth of 80mm (or 60mm beneath vegetation blanket) – meets the requirements of GRO Code 2014.
0.7
Flower-rich perennial planting.
0.7
Rain gardens and other vegetated sustainable drainage elements.
0.7
Hedges (line of mature shrubs one or two shrubs wide)
0.6
Standard trees planted in pits with soil volumes less than two thirds of the projected canopy area of the mature tree.
0.6
Green wall – modular system or climbers rooted in soil.
I do prefer a lawn being British, but abroad, especially in year round warmer climes, a lawn is not common but gardens are nevertheless beautiful. A Japanese garden has no lawn and that works wonderfully too. I have had dogs mostly and they love a lawn and it's also a lovely green backdrop against my beds.
If I had the luxury of a bigger garden, I would I certainly consider different garden areas, some without a lawn to grow more of an upright jungle type garden.
@CrankyYankee I agree, weeds are just flowers growing where we don't want them too - and dandelions are excellent plants, for bees and insects, and for us. I'm toying with putting a thyme lawn in too, but it's not a priority at the moment.
Posts
Or maybe I'm wrong.
If I had the luxury of a bigger garden, I would I certainly consider different garden areas, some without a lawn to grow more of an upright jungle type garden.
I'm toying with putting a thyme lawn in too, but it's not a priority at the moment.