Lawns are an environmental nightmare. Here’s why.

Industrial-scale agriculture is one of the main topics of discussion when it comes to climate change and environmental health. But one of the largest crops in the US is probably one that most people would never guess.

Your lawn.

A 2005 study based on NASA satellite imagery estimated that the US has over 40 million acres of land in the continental US that features some form of a lawn. Lawns aren’t limited to residential spaces either. Golf courses, commercial buildings, parking lots, recreational parks, and other manicured landscapes were taken into consideration in the study. Pristine expanses of neatly trimmed grass are so important to Americans that we pour an estimated  $30 billion into lawn care each year. 

While the total number of acres dedicated to landscaped lawns may have changed since 2005, the resources that we pour into maintaining them year-round suggest that they are still a common feature in most landscapes. The consequences of their upkeep have serious environmental health implications worth considering. 

Fossil Fuels

Without carefully managed ruminants to keep the grass under control, most homeowners turn to gas-powered lawnmowers. The carbon emissions from mowing are probably more than you think. The US EPA estimates that one gas mower emits 87-pounds of CO2 each year and 54-pounds of other pollutants. The Union of Concerned Scientists also released data on lawn care estimating that running a gas-powered mower for one hour creates pollution equal to eight sedans being driven at 55 miles for one hour.

Meanwhile, an estimated 17 million gallons of gasoline are spilled each year during attempts to refuel lawnmowers and garden equipment, which is more oil than the 11 million gallons of crude oil that the Exxon Valdez spilled in the Gulf of Alaska.

It’s unsurprising, therefore, that the 2005 study concluded that any carbon sequestration potential that our lawns have to offer comes at a steep fossil fuel cost. The researchers estimated that the cost of fertilization and mowing would drop any sequestration potential by 15% to 35%.

Water

When it comes to water usage, the EPA estimates that of the 400 gallons of water that an average American family uses each day, 30% is devoted to outdoor use and more than half of the outdoor use water is allocated to watering lawns and gardens. In fact, landscape irrigation accounts for an estimated one-third of all residential water use. This adds up to more than 7 billion gallons of water per day. Other uses of residential water worth noting include swimming pools, washing cars, and hosing down driveways and sidewalks.

Over-watering, poorly maintained irrigation systems, and selecting vegetation that is not well-suited to a resident’s climate are contributing factors to Americans’ very thirsty lawn problem. 

Toxic Chemicals

Roughly half of homeowners fertilize their lawns, according to Scotts Miracle-Gro. Runoff from urban landscapes carrying fertilizer as well as other lawn care inputs like herbicides can impact local water quality, according to a 2017 study. 

“In the urban landscapes, pollutants of concern include nutrients, bacteria, organic compounds, heavy metals, and sediments. In residential catchments, the main sources of nutrients are lawn fertilizer, vehicular emissions, atmospheric deposition, organic matter (i.e. lawn clippings, tree leaves), recycled or reclaimed water used for irrigation, and pet waste,” the study concluded.

Even the way that we tend to keep our lawns in pristine condition has negative consequences for the environment. Fall yard cleanup is a common weekend activity for many households, centered primarily on gathering up fallen leaves, scooping them into plastic bags, and leaving them at the curb for a waste management truck to collect and deposit at a waste facility. 

Waste and Loss in Biodiversity

Bumblebees and other pollinators rely on fallen leaf cover to make it through winter. Bumblebee queens hibernate outside the hive alone and prefer to dig into loose soil underneath a protective cover of vegetation. Leaving fallen leaves provides ample habitat for these crucial pollinators. This makes it even more challenging to accept the waste of lawn clippings, which could also be used as food to feed ruminant animals that can provide humans with nutrient-dense protein. 

Opt for a Water-Smart Lawn

In response to crippling drought, a number of Californians began adopting “water smart” lawns featuring wood chips, rock beds, bricks, and drought-tolerant plants. The California Department of Water Resources recently provided over 8,000 turf rebates as part of the Cash for Grass program covering 9 million square feet of lawn encouraging homeowners to swap their thirsty grass-based lawns for something more resilient.

Some residents are taking water-smart lawn care to the next level by opting for a residential fruit and vegetable garden instead. Florida recently passed a law affirming residents’ right to cultivate food gardens in their front yards. The law was proposed in response to a legal dispute in Miami Shores that prohibited residents from planting food gardens in their front yards.

Lawns Can Support the Case for Better Meat

Goats and other grazing animals are a great way to manage your lawn - they can prune and fertilize while producing meat. How awesome is that?

The meat industry is catching a lot of heat these days and being vilified as one of the largest contributors to climate change. This conversation overlooks the many different ways that we can address our impact on the environment. Lawn care is only one example of how we need to make deeper, societal changes to improve our relationship with nature.

In the forthcoming book and documentary film Sacred Cow, we investigate the nutritional, environmental, and ethical case for better meat instead of eliminating meat. Through the careful management of ruminant animals, meat production can actually help fight climate change through carbon sequestration while providing an excellent source of nutrients. Click here to learn more about Sacred Cow and how you can support the project.

Meg Chatham is a brand strategist, community developer, and digital content marketer. She creates, designs, and manages all social media, web, and newsletter content for Sacred Cow and Sustainable Dish. She is currently based in Texas, where she enjoys running and hiking in between sips of espresso. Learn more here.