We Need Summers with Less Leaf Blowers and More Fireflies
By Kaleigh Kogler, Director
You can improve the health of our environment by doing nothing. Yes, you read that right. By doing nothing to your lawn, or at least doing a lot less, you are taking the first step toward a healthier habitat for wildlife and yourself. The classic green, plush lawn is a staple of many homes in the United States. This status symbol can be traced back to the manicured and agriculturally unproductive lawns of wealthy Europeans in the eighteenth century. These practices boomed in the 1950s, as the dream of a well-kept house in the suburbs was accompanied by a shiny lawn mower and potent pesticides. More than seventy years later, turf grass lawns have sunk their short and spreading roots in the yards of many Americans. As we confront our leading role in global habitat destruction, restoring our lawns to look a little more wild is an immediate action we can all easily take to rectify this ecological damage.
The requirements for cultivating a lush lawn include: mowing, leaf blowing or raking, watering, fertilizing, and applying pesticides. What would it mean for the environment if everyone did less of it? The first step is to compromise on the aesthetic of a manicured monoculture lawn. Allow ‘weeds’ such as dandelions, clover, and violets to grow and resist the urge to rake leaves covering your lawn. A hungry bumblebee buzzing through a barren neighborhood can’t feast on blades of grass or use them to safely overwinter. Stretch the time between mowing and watering, participate in next year’s “No Mow May,” or stop mowing parts of your yard altogether. By only mowing where you go, you can continue recreating in the spaces you typically use, and save time and wildlife habitat in the areas you don’t. Leaf litter and grass clippings are not only vital habitats for fireflies, ground nesting bumblebees, and other beneficial insects. As they decompose, they also act as a natural fertilizer returning nutrients to the soil. This is far more beneficial than bagging up yard waste and sending it to the landfill. According to the EPA, “In 2018, landfills received about 10.5 million tons of yard trimmings, which comprised 7.2 percent of all [municipal solid waste] landfill.” By not lifting a finger to remove food and shelter for wildlife, we improve our own habitats.
The war against weeds and other ‘pests’ is also a chemical one. Clean Wisconsin reports that, “Altogether, more than 13,000 pesticide products are registered for use in Wisconsin–across farms, neighborhoods, and indoor spaces.” While we are still understanding the long-term negative health effects of synthetic pesticides on humans, we already know they are detrimental to wildlife. Aquatic organisms, animals that directly or indirectly ingest these chemicals, and wildlife that rely on ‘pests’ for food or shelter are particularly vulnerable. Even after following application instructions, there is no guarantee against runoff. Since Door County is famous for our lack of soil and permeable bedrock, anything applied to the surface has a high likelihood of appearing in our ground and surface waters with little filtering and in record time. Luckily, there is a simple solution: limit or completely eliminate the use of fertilizers and pesticides in your yard. Your lawn may have some dandelions, but our surface waters will be healthier.
So far, the presented solution to the negative environmental impacts of manicured lawns has been to do less. Spend less time mowing, less money fertilizing, and less effort raking. You can also do more. For the people who enjoy their lawn care routines, there is always room for incorporating native plants, shrubs, and trees into your yard. Unlike non-native turf grasses, native plants evolved over millions of years to adapt to their local climates, and therefore require less maintenance. Native plants typically have longer roots for better water storage, consequently capturing more pesticide runoff and reducing soil erosion. You can start with planting a pocket prairie strip or rain garden in areas of your yard where water typically collects or passes through. Native wildlife evolved over millions of years to coexist with native plants and trees, and restoring native plant populations in your yard creates essential food and habitat for them. The National Audubon Society cites a study by entomologist Doug Tallamy revealing that, “...native oak trees support over 500 species of caterpillars whereas ginkgos, a commonly planted landscape tree from Asia, host only 5 species of caterpillars.” Audubon’s native plant guide: https://www.audubon.org/native-plants is an amazing place to begin your native plant journey.
As our towns and lawns continue to expand, we cannot forget that we share this space with other living beings that deserve the right to exist and thrive in their home. We are currently living during an unprecedented ecological crisis. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, “One million of the world’s estimated 8 million species of plants and animals are threatened with extinction.” As individuals, this is difficult to confront and even harder to figure out what to do about it. As a starting point, breaking up with the traditional lawn can do a lot of good. If we all contribute a little, conveniently by doing less harmful lawn care, the positive impacts of restoring wildlife habitat will be staggering. And if you can, replace your time mowing with planting more native plants to cultivate more biodiversity and happier wildlife. You don’t have to get rid of your entire lawn, but every piece matters. The whirring of cicadas, chirping of birds, and revving lawn mowers are the current sounds of summer. Without any effort at all, we can change that.
Sources:
https://www.cleanwisconsin.org/pesticides-in-wisconsin-waters/
https://wrc.osu.edu/news/2018/09/urban-pesticide-use-and-water-quality
https://www.audubon.org/content/why-native-plants-matter
https://www.unep.org/facts-about-nature-crisis