Why is Turf & Grass (non-native) bad? And what can you replace it with?

Why do lawns exist?

Lawns originated in Europe in the 16th century when French and English castles desired the land immediately surrounding their property to be free from trees so that soldiers could see if enemies were coming to attack. These fields were usually filled with thyme or chamomile and were kept short by grazing livestock.

A lawn, taken out of context, is a very peculiar landscaping choice. It is neither incredibly decorative nor useful, and in terms of land use, it is inefficient. It is essentially a large piece of land that produces nothing except a space to do recreational activities, mostly for dogs, children, and golfers, and it often takes an immense amount of care to maintain.

The “American Dream”

Not only do lawns make a devastating impact on the environment, but they are also an immense time, resource and energy suck. Lawns became a way to demonstrate your wealth and power. When googling “American Dream home” you literally receive homes paired with a white picket fence and a green lawn.

Throughout all this history, the common thread is that lawns seem to be a class symbol. Whether you were a nobleman in 17th century England or a suburbian today, the lawn is a symbol of success— a reflection of who you are as a person. A good, clean, weed-free lawn is a sign you have the wealth and resources to devote to such a fundamentally meaningless project.

Sourced from Why do we have lawns anyways.

Grass Turf Vs. Native Roots and What Do Deep Roots Do

Why are roots essential in the makeup of our ground?

As roots grow, they nourish and stabilize plants, but they also help the planet by storing carbon in the earth — or at least until the plant dies, decomposes and releases the carbon back into the atmosphere.

In particular, several studies suggest that deep roots can forage for water and nutrient supplies totally beyond the reach of surface roots, thereby playing a central role in the cycling of nutrient and water.

Tree root systems help reduce erosion by holding soil in place. Even after being cut, the roots attached to the stump help stabilize soil for years. Reducing risk of landslides.

Soil Erosion & Runoff

While walking around your neighborhood or parks you may notice areas that look like the below images. This is called Soil Erosion. Soil erosion occurs primarily when dirt is left exposed to strong winds, hard rains, and flowing water.

The splash dislodges soil particles, making them more susceptible to movement by overland water flow. The loosened particles that are not washed away can form a muddy slick that clogs pores in the ground surface. The sealed surface further reduces infiltration and increases stormwater runoff.

<< Dirt left exposed causing water to sit on top rather then being soaked into the ground

Water Runoff from exposed sand & dirt causing waterways to become clogged >>

What is Groundcover?

Ground cover is simply any plant that grows over an area of ground. Groundcover provides protection of the topsoil from erosion and drought. In an ecosystem, the ground cover forms the layer of vegetation below the shrub layer known as the herbaceous layer.

Below is a list of reasons to plant alternative ground covers to turf:

1. Provides insects and seeds for songbirds and other wildlife

2. Provides habitat for pollinators including flowers for bees and plants for butterfly caterpillars

3. Increases water infiltration via its deeper root system when compared to a traditional lawn

4. Lowers maintenance costs. Native meadows only need to be cut or mown once a year or never. This not only saves time and costs, but also reduces emissions, gas, and energy to operate lawnmowers, weed hackers, and other lawn equipment.

5. Once established, the native meadow does not need supplemental irrigation. In fact, irrigation may favor the growth of weed species. Because it is planted with native plants it is able to withstand drought.

6. Native plants have deeper root systems than traditional lawns and are better able to store carbon in the soil.

Alternative Groundcover to Turf

You can replace grass with Florida ground covers (that thrive in sandy soil where grass barely survives):

1. Sunshine Mimosa - full sun

2. Beach Sunflower - full sun

3. Perennial Peanut - full sun

4. Hammock Twinflower - partial shade

5. Shore Juniper - - full sun

6. Golden Creeper - full sun

7. Dwarf Chenille Plant - partial shade

8. Fogfruit - partial shade

Cover Crops

A cover crop is a plant that is used primarily to slow erosion, improve soil health, enhance water availability, smother weeds, help control pests and diseases, increase biodiversity, and bring a host of other benefits to your farm.

During the heat of the summer or between seasons, planting cover crops on top of raised beds or crop areas is a great way to support the soil before your next planting season.

Great Cover crops for raised bed gardening:

1. Cowpeas (black-eyed peas)

2. Peas

3. Lentils

4. Mustard

5. Barley

6. Wheat

7. Radish

8. Buckwheat

9. Alfalfa

10. Clover

11. Rye

12. Oats