A Friendlier Shade of Green: Lawn Conversions Catch On

In the mid-twentieth century, the perfectly manicured front lawn became a symbol of the American dream, its condition considered a mirror in which the homeowner’s own moral character was reflected.

But 50 years later, busy, budget-conscious homeowners are less concerned with what a patch of grass might say about them to passersby than they are with creating an outdoor environment that’s practical, easy on the environment and that reflects their personal tastes and styles.

This is a trend that is happening more and more, and one of the biggest reasons is that people just don’t use their lawns anymore, said Jeff Becerra, communications manager at StopWaste.org, an ongoing collaboration between the Alameda County Waste Management Authority and the Alameda County Source Reduction and Recycling Board.

StopWaste.org began a few years ago with a waste reduction focus intended to minimize landfill-bound solid waste. A conservation component was quickly added, and the partnering agencies began offering tips for green building and green gardening. Earlier this year, StopWaste.org launched the Lose Your Lawn the Bay Friendly Way campaign, which promotes replacing lawns with gardens and landscaping projects that conserve water and prevent pollution of the San Francisco Bay.

Nowadays, a front lawn is just this thing that eats up a lot of time and money, Becerra added.

According to Becerra, the average lawn needs about twice as much water as a garden to stay healthy. And how many times have you seen water gushing from a neighbor’s broken sprinkler head? So for starters, homeowners willing to part with their lawns can expect to see an immediate difference on their water bills.

But saving money is just the beginning. Losing your lawn also cuts down on waste—lawn clippings, while compostable, still take up space at compost facilities and require handling—and helps the County of Alameda protect one of Bay Area residents’ most valued treasures, the Bay.

Every time the Bay Area Council conducts one of its polls and asks residents what’s most important to them, the health of the San Francisco Bay ranks right up there with strengthening the local economy and reducing crime, Becerra said. We feel a real connection to it, and we want to do everything we can to protect it.

Still, many of those same residents continue to use weed-killers, pesticides and chemical fertilizers on their lawns and gardens, seemingly unaware that these chemicals have harmful effects far beyond the boundaries of their property lines.

Everything you use on your lawn ends up in the Bay eventually—everything, Becerra explained. And we’ve seen how those chemicals affect the plant and animal life. Farther up the chain, right at home in fact, those chemicals can make us and our kids and pets really sick if we’re exposed.

StopWaste.org suggests replacing lawns with organic fruit-and-vegetable gardens. They’re not only functional; they’re also pretty to look at, fun to watch grow, and proven to reduce stress. And the fruits and vegetables they produce can help homeowners save even more money.

The conversion isn’t difficult or expensive at all to do yourself, Becerra said.

The StopWaste.org website features an instructional video that explains how to convert a lawn into a garden using the sheet-mulching process. In short, it involves laying sheets of everyday cardboard right on top the existing lawn, getting it wet, covering the cardboard with mulch and waiting a few months for the whole thing to breakdown into useable soil. For those who want to begin planting right away, Becerra suggested mixing some compost in with the mulch.

Becerra recommended hitting up appliance stores and bicycle shops for larger cardboard boxes. Most are happy to give the boxes away for free to save themselves the hassle of having to break the boxes down for recycling pickup. For mulch, he suggests contacting gardeners and tree trimmers. Giving the tree trimmings away saves them the trouble of having to haul the material to a compost facility.

A second video on the organization’s website shows how to convert existing sprinkler systems into drip irrigation systems. Standard sprinklers spray a broad stream of water on top of plants (and often adjacent patches of pavement) that has to work its way down to the soil. Drip irrigation sends water directly to the roots and soil where it’s needed most. Combined with the mulch, which holds more water than a standard lawn, this will help save quite a bit of money on water.

Traffic to the StopWaste.org website’s Lose Your Lawn page has been increasing steadily, as has the number of actual lawn conversions happening across the county. Becerra is excited to see residents taking StopWaste.org’s advice. He’s equally excited to see the lawn-to-garden conversion being featured in popular gardening publications.

Even Sunset magazine recently ran a feature on lawn conversions, he said. That’s a really good gauge of how this whole idea is catching on. For years, they were running stories on caring for turf.

Becerra understands that not every homeowner wants the responsibility of a fruit-and-vegetable garden. For those who prefer landscaping that suits their individual personalities, he said there is an environmentally responsible way to make a strong personal statement with trees and plants—a statement more individual than the I’m perfect message our grandparents tried to make with their manicured lawns.

That’s the thing, everyone can have the garden that works for them, he said. It could be native plants or a garden that attracts butterflies or other wildlife. We interior decorate, so why not exterior decorate too? But follow our tips and do it the Bay-friendly way.

For more information on the Lose Your Lawn the Bay Friendly Way campaign and other StopWaste programs, visit www.stopwaste.org.