Grass may be beautiful to the eye, but flowers feed the Earth. Each blossom is a source of food for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators who make life possible. Without them, our fruits won’t ripen, our trees won’t flourish and our futures won’t grow.
Mowing your lawn may seem like a mundane chore, but it has significant environmental impacts. Most lawn equipment is gasoline powered, typically being one of two types: two-stroke or four-stroke engines. To fuel this equipment, it takes about 800 million gallons of gasoline annually, with 17 million additional gallons spilled in the process. According to a study done by Quiet Communities, this equipment was responsible for the release of 26.7 million tons of pollutants in 2011. Another environmental concern with traditional laws is the use of pesticides and fertilisers. Pesticides harm local wildlife and contaminate local water resources.
Turning lawns into meadows can have big benefits for people, wildlife, and the climate. Compared to lawns, meadows, open landscapes filled with an array of non-woody plants such as tall grasses, flowers and herbs are less expensive to maintain, require less water and energy and help sequester more CO2.
Plants and flowers are species that naturally occur in a specific region and have evolved to thrive in local environmental conditions. This evolutionary advantage means they require very little maintenance, as they have adapted natural defences to local challenges like drought, nutrient-poor soil, and pests. As a result, they require minimal maintenance, saving both time and money. Did you know that you are likely to spend more than seven times more to manage one hectare of traditional lawn compared to meadow?
Replacing even a small patch of lawn with native flowers brings exponential benefits. You give shelter to the tiny workers who pollinate 75% of the world’s crops. You restore soil health, reduce the need for watering, and invite biodiversity back into your corner of the world. Maximise your lawn or grassed area for wildlife. By relaxing the mowing, even the most tired or unloved lawn can be brought to life.