Some of my fondest memories of time spent with my daughter have been on our lawn: lying on the cool, lush green grass under the towering pines; talking while gazing up at the clouds; passing the soccer ball; or running full speed for the tossed Frisbee.
I have often read that grass is one of the most unsustainable choices for our landscapes due to the use of fertilizers, herbicides, water, and petroleum fuels. The Union of Concerned Scientists’ fifth, and final tip, to help create a climate friendly garden, is to minimize lawn fertilizers and watering (http://www.climatefriendlygarden.org).
They encourage application of the least amount of fertilizer possible and recommend that grass clippings be left on the lawn as an organic fertilizer. They explain that raising the mower blade to three inches above ground or higher encourages deep roots; avoids drying out the grass; and increases carbon storage. They emphasize the importance of choosing the right grass for our area by using our local Cornell Cooperative Extensions as a resource for low-maintenance grasses or ground covers (http://ccedutchess.org/aghort/community-horticulture).
Interestingly, they also report that a growing body of research indicates that soils covered in turf grasses can capture and store significant amounts of carbon. Unfortunately for us lawn lovers, a small number of newer studies, have shown that lawns have the potential to generate heat-trapping nitrous oxide (especially when over watered).
So for now, we can minimize watering; mow at a height of three inches; use less (and organic) fertilizers; use corn products as pre-emergent weed killers; and leave the cut grass clippings on the lawn, to eliminate many of the negative impacts of lawn maintenance. Once a practical solar mower is marketed to use on lawns that are too large for electric or push mowers, we'll be able to wiggle our toes in the grass with childhood abandon and a clear conscience.
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