Transition your yard:  There's life after lawn

by Kit Canright

Why move from mostly lawn to more diverse plantings?

• Less lawn = less mowing = less pollution.  Lawn mowing in the US produces 5 percent of the nation's air pollution, more in metropolitan areas, says the EPA.

• More productive land: we can grow food instead of grass.

• Water stewardship. In the US, 36 states predict a freshwater shortage within a decade. It is estimated that 30 to 60 percent of urban water is used on lawns.

How can we be better stewards of our land and water? 

• Minimize pollution by reducing or eliminating fertilizers, pesticides, and salt. Gravel works well on icy sidewalks and can be swept up and reused.

• Landscape to reduce erosion and keep sediment pollution out of waterways.

• If you mow, switch to an electric or reel lawn mower.

• Capture stormwater in barrels, rain gardens, or bioswales: this also reduces water pollution from runoff. Permeable pavers let rainwater filter into the earth; they're also less toxic than blacktop. 

• When roofing, consider using wood or slate: they release fewer pollutants.

• Use a rain gauge and water only when plants need it. Water in the morning to minimize evaporation and reduce plant diseases. Let grass turn brown in midsummer; it will green up in the fall.

• Use native plantings with deep roots. They hold the soil better, need less water, and require less work!