Many Americans spend a good portion of their leisure time taking care of the grass around their homes. Why are lawns such an obsession and are they worth all the trouble?

Most of the grasses used in lawns are not native to North America, but originate from varieties that were imported from the United Kingdom and France in the eighteenth century. At that time, having the resources needed to maintain a lawn was a sign of wealth. The lawn grew in popularity in North America in the 20th century as it became a status symbol for the middle class, spurred on exponentially by the rise in suburban development after World War II and the dream of the "white picket fence" lifestyle. As lawns require quite a bit of maintenance, the lawn care industry was born, and advertising was used heavily to encourage Americans to desire that perfect green turf to impress the neighbors.

This obsession has had a huge impact on our natural environment.

Problem one: lawns require a great deal of water. In many areas, grass won't stay green during the summer months without extensive watering. People that live in arid climates like Arizona often want to have lush grass (and golf courses!) though the weather doesn't produce enough rain to keep the grass green. For example, during summer months in the 1980s, about 60% of the water used in Dallas, Texas was for lawns! During droughts, some cities have had to instill watering bans, which are often violated.

Problem two: the drive to have a perfect lawn has led to the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides which make it easier to keep weeds and insects at bay. These chemicals do not disappear when it rains, they flow into groundwater and eventually into our lakes and streams where they are a major cause of water pollution. These chemicals are also harmful to pets and children who play on lawns.

Many municipalities have started to introduce legislation to ban the use of lawn chemicals, but there is often strong opposition from chemical companies, the lawn care industry, golf courses, and others who benefit financially from their use.

Problem three: biotechnology is being used to create new strains of genetically engineered grass. It is not yet known what the impact of these plants (sometimes called "frankengrasses" by opponents) will have on our ecosystem.

Are there any options? It is possible to have a green lawn without the use of chemicals in many regions. Learn about how to maintain grass using natural fertilizers and old-fashioned weeding techniques. Choose varieties of grass that grow with less water or try alternative groundcover and landscaping ideas that are in tune with the amount of rainfall and sun in your area. Better yet, turn your lawn into a garden!

Resources and further reading:

The Creator, St. Francis and Lawns  (cached)
a clever joke conversation between St. Francis and the Creator about lawns that has been circulating the Internet.

Ten Reasons to Ditch Lawn Chemicals and Go Organic  (cached)
Information from the World Wildlife Fund about why you should give up toxic lawn chemicals.

Nonchemical Alternatives for the Home Lawn  (cached)
A guide from Iowa State University on how to care for your lawn naturally.

Lawn Alternatives  (cached)
This page explores some of the alternatives to grass for groundcover.

What is Xeriscape?  (cached)
Information on xeriscaping, or landscaping designed to require less water.

Composting Information from the EPA  (cached)
Composting is a great way to fertilize your lawn naturally and as an added bonus it reduces the amount of garbage your household creates.

Healthy Lawns, Healthy Lungs?  (cached)
An article from the Lung Association in Canada about the link between flu-like respiratory symptoms and the use of lawn chemicals.

Halifax Pesticide By-Law  (cached)
Halifax, Nova Scotia is one of many municipalities that has banned the use of lawn pesticides. This page outlines the provisions of their law.

GMO Grass Seed  (cached)
An article about a controversy in Oregon regarding the testing of genetically modified grass.

Book: The Lawn, A History of An American Obsession
A book about the history of the lawn in America. Discusses cultural and environmental issues surrounding the quest for the perfectly uniform lawn.

Opposing Viewpoints:

About Urban Use of Pesticides  (cached)
This page has questions and answers aimed at explaining why pesticides are good for your lawn. Keep in mind that this site is run by an association representing "the manufacturers, developers and distributors of plant life science solutions" (aka the agri-chemical industry.)

Lawn & Landscape Legislation  (cached)
This page keeps track of news related to lawn-related legislation, including bans on pesticide use. Many of the articles here are written from the perspective of the lawn care industry, who see this kind of legislation as dangerous to their bottom line.