Amidst the daunting climate crisis, it's easy to feel our individual efforts are insignificant. We recycle, compost, and reduce our carbon footprint, and some of us are involved in local conservation efforts or advocate for policy changes. But there's one action that we, as individuals, can take that's easily accessible, profoundly empowering, and right outside our homes. Our collective actions, no matter how small, can make a significant difference.
There are135 million acres of residential neighborhoods in the United States, and approximately44 million acres are currently dedicated to lawn space, meaning that roughly 32.6% of residential land is covered by lawns. This seemingly innocuous green space, however, has a significant environmental impact. Historically,the use of lawns first became popular among the gentry in Western Europe when they were managed as pasture. The highly manicured lawns of English landscape gardens became popular amongst nobility in the 17th and 18th centuries. Still, in the United States, the invention and mass production of lawnmowers normalized the aesthetic and practice. Today,homeowners spend billions of dollars and typically use ten times the amount of pesticide and fertilizers per acre on their lawns as farmers do on crops. This excessive use of chemicals not only harms the soil and water but also contributes to the decline of pollinators and other wildlife. It's time to rethink our lawns and their impact on the environment.
We all depend on healthy ecosystems for clean air and water, flood control, pollinators for our food, pest control, and critical carbon storage. Local ecosystems are losing large and growing numbers of species, which reduces their ability to provide the ecosystem services we rely on.There are 2.9 billion fewer breeding birds in North America than in 1970. Even common, beloved species have undergone staggering losses. Landscapes are losing their ability to support bird populations.
But what if we transformed our cookie-cutter lawns and returned them to nature? We do not have to eliminate aesthetic landscaping; instead, we should give the land we sit on the opportunity to breathe, improve soil health, flourish with native plants, and bring back essential pollinators. There is a growing movement in the United States, and local homeowners and community members are dedicated to this cause. While it may feel intimidating to get started, many resources are available to those interested in making a change. One such,Homegrown National Park (HNP), is a collective organization that "raises awareness and urgently inspires everyone to address the biodiversity crisis by adding native plants and removing invasive ones where we live, work, learn, pray, and play." Their website is an excellent place to look for information, get resources, and join a community working towards this change.
If you're interested in transforming your grassy lawn into a wildlife and pollinator haven, here are a few suggestions on how to get started:
This is a great place to start, but it may take years before invasive plants are entirely wiped out from your property. Invasive plants in our yards can crowd out native plants and reduce biodiversity. They can also damage our soil and property. Effective technique at the right time of year provides faster results. Understand the most effective treatment regimen and how to implement it. For example, early spring and fall are the best times to remove honeysuckle. A simple Google search can tell you which plants are considered invasive in your state or area.
How to tackle:
Cutting, pulling, or digging up the plant and its roots is often the best way to remove invasive plants. You can use hand tools for small plants, but for larger plants, you might need a four-pronged fork to loosen the soil and remove the roots. You can also use a hori hori, a garden tool with a long, tapered blade, to remove smaller plants. While you might find information online that recommends the use of herbicides and pesticides for removal, please be aware that the chemicals found in these products can be harmful to both you, your family, and your pets as well as wildlife, soil, and for the native plants that we want to restore.
A native plant is a species that naturally occurs within a specific ecosystem (without human intervention) and shares an evolutionary history with the other species in that area. These relationships make them crucial for the health and productivity of that ecosystem. Native insects, butterflies, moths, and birds overwhelmingly prefer native plants. Plant choices matter to wildlife because not all food is equal. Adding native plants to our yards is vital to increasing biodiversity. The excellent news is gardeners don't have to go 100% native—mixing native and non-native plants serves the same goal. For home gardeners, there are several advantages to growing native plants: they require no pesticides and fertilizers, little watering is needed once established, and when the right plant is planted in the right place, minimal pruning is needed.
How to select your native plants:
An excellent way to get started is by selecting your 'workhorse' plants tailored to your backyard conditions, such as soil, moisture, and light exposure. These primary species help suppress invasive species and stabilize your environment. Next, incorporate native plants thriving in your area and support local wildlife. Often, these are mistakenly categorized as weeds. For example, in the Midwest, you could plant Purple Coneflower or Black-Eyed Susan. Lastly, choose additional native plants that appeal to you aesthetically. Opt for species that will survive your yard's specific conditions and add seasonal variety, making your restored space vibrant and sustainable throughout the year.
Lastly, choose additional native plants that appeal to you aesthetically. Opt for species that will survive your yard's specific conditions and add seasonal variety, making your restored space vibrant and sustainable throughout the year.
Fire-Resistant Landscaping with Native Trees.Photo byLesly Hall
Consider Your Trees
Native trees have grown in an area for thousands—sometimes millions—of years. Every single drought, blizzard, or heat event they have lived through. Often, they are the preferred food and homes for our favorite iconic wildlife. Their DNA understands the idiosyncratic nuances of our soil, seasons, and wildlife. If you struggle with having deer nibble your landscaping, many native trees are deer-proof. You can use the USDA's Plant Hardiness Zone Tool to find your local planting zone.
Trees to Consider:
Eastern / Western Flowering Dogwood: Ten dogwood species are native to North America. These trees flower with stunning four-petal flowers in the spring. No matter where you live, there is probably a native flowering dogwood for you.
Pawpaw: Want to plant a beautiful tree AND eat the most prominent fruit native to North America? Plant some Pawpaws. Most Pawpaws top out around 30 feet and change dramatically with the seasons. In the spring, they flower with gothic, dark red flowers. When leafed out, they look tropical—almost like an avocado tree. These leaves provide places for Zebra Swallowtail.
Serviceberry: Serviceberries cover their branches in white blossoms in the early spring. In June, they are covered in small, edible fruit. They taste like a cross between a blueberry and a raspberry. Plant a serviceberry for beauty, jam, and bird-watching possibilities. Butterflies lay their eggs and food for their caterpillars, making them host plants. You'll need to plant a few to cross-pollinate and get fruit.
Texas Mountain Laurel: This small, easily managed tree is a beautiful choice if you live in the country's South. In the spring and early summer, it blooms with fistfuls of purple, cascading flowers. These flowers attract butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds, making them pollinator magnets.
Oak: This is the grandmother tree of the list, one of the longest-living and possibly most critical native trees in the country. Oaks are a keystone species, meaning they support more life forms than any other tree genus in North America. They provide food, shelter, and places to raise young for many animals, including birds, mammals, insects, and spiders. Acorns are a vital food source for many birds and mammals in the winter. Acorns can be processed into flour, mush, and soup and have a slightly nutty flavor. Oaks provide many benefits to the ecosystem, including clean air, shade, stormwater runoff prevention, soil stabilization, and erosion prevention.
These are just a few suggestions and options for you to consider, but they are certainly a partial list. Additional steps you can take are planting a pollinator garden, creating winter-friendly habitats such as brush piles, and, of course, leaving those falling leaves alone; a healthy layer of leaves and soil will not only provide mulch for your plants but create an entire habitat for small animals and pollinators. Whatever small steps you can take to turn a manicured grass lawn into a native wildlife ecosystem will not only benefit you, your family, and your neighborhood but, if enough of us do it, our planet.
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