Image credits: Jenny Symonds, SFEI
Alternative groundcovers such as meadows, grass polycultures, shrubs, and mulch can replace lawns in many cases. Turfgrass lawn monocultures dominate the urban landscape and require high levels of chemical inputs, irrigation, and management. Urban greenspaces dominated by lawn monocultures have low biodiversity and the intensive maintenance they require creates negative impacts on human and ecosystem health.
Most alternatives to lawn monocultures provide higher pollinator and biodiversity support. Shrubs and other structural diversity that animals use as cover while navigating through urban areas can minimize landscape fragmentation. Lawn alternatives also often require fewer inputs of fertilizer and pesticides to maintain, and less mowing, both of which benefit insect diversity.
High proportion of grass cover in green space is associated with poor health and higher heat than diversified vegetation. Traditional lawn monoculture requires high levels of chemical inputs that can be deposited on clothing and persist in indoor environments, including homes. Lawn chemicals have been linked to negative health outcomes and gas-powered mowers impact air quality.
Lawns may be optimal for recreational areas, which support sports and other active recreation with strong health benefits. While total elimination of monoculture lawn grass may not be feasible or warranted, the following implementation guidelines can be used to limit the negative effects.
