By: Susie

Read time: 10 minutes

The way in which green space is kept can either help or hurt the environment. Take for example, the lawn. Brought over to America during colonization, the perfectly manicured, green lawn is strong a symbol of the American dream and culture. In Europe, lawns were historically a symbol of wealth, and in some instances were maintained in order to see approaching enemies. After being introduced in United States, the popularity of lawns skyrocketed, with some 40 million acres of land being covered by lawns (Princeton). Lawns are found in almost every landscape—from suburban, to urban, and even rural areas. 

Lawns are a type of formal garden in which grass is kept very short and mowed very often. In addition to the sprawling grassy landscape, many lawns are often adorned with showy, ornamental plants. These plants evolved with the colonial style lawn. Many of the plants used in landscaping are considered exotic, non-native, or invasive. 

What are invasive plants?

Invasive plants are plants that are non-native to the region they are introduced. Because of global trade, landscaping with invasive plants has never been easier. Invasive plants outcompete native species and displace natural ecosystems. In essence, invasive plants are considered invasive because they can have a negative impact on the environment in which they are introduced. 

In Indiana, some of the earliest recognizable spring blooms include invasive species, such as the Callery pear tree. With its magnificent white flowers, the tree is a popular ornamental choice for homeowners and developers. Birds utilize the tree for food, and as a result, they end up spreading the seeds and therefore expanding the range of the Callery pear. 

What are the environmental problems associated with lawns and invasive plants?

Lawns and invasive plants go hand in hand. Mowing, fertilizing, and other energy intensive practices are required to keep lawns looking manicured during the growing season. Invasive species outcompete native plants, creating resource competition and displacing native ecosystems. In landscaping, invasive species may not be adequately adapted to the environment, and therefore require more external inputs like water and fertilizers. 

Lawns and invasive plants can:

  • Reduce biodiversity
  • Increase fire risk
  • Threaten food security
  • Drive plant and animal extinction
  • Create habitat loss
  • Spread disease
  • Pollute waterways
  • Create unnecessary costs
  • Threaten ecological integrity and limit the discovery of new medicines

Consider the following facts about lawns and invasive plants:

  • One study found that air pollution, in the form of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) was 124 times greater from an idling lawn equipment engine when compared to a car or truck (Princeton).
  • A consumer grade leaf blower releases more hydrocarbons than a pick-up truck or sedan (Princeton).
  • Some gas-powered leaf blowers generate a roar at 100 decibels, laying waste to topsoil, insects, and the environment while blasting air at 280 miles an hour. That 100-decibel roar is the same noise level as a passenger jet taking off (Kleinman Center for Energy Policy). 
  • In 2011, engineers at the car company Edmunds estimated that driving a Ford F-150 Raptor truck from Texas to Alaska would emit the same amount of air pollution as a mere half-hour of yard work with a two-stroke, gas-powered leaf blower (Kleinman Center for Energy Policy).
  • According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, lawns and gardens in this country are sprayed with more than 90 million pounds of insecticides and herbicides a year, which can ultimately end up in our soil, water, and bodies (National Wildlife Federation). 
  • Invasive species cost the world at least $423 billion every year as they drive plant and animal extinctions, threaten food security and exacerbate environmental catastrophes across the globe (CNN).
  • The invasion of downy brome (Bromus tectorum) in the Western US grasslands has led to an increase in the frequency and intensity of wildfires (USDA).
  • By reducing insect availability, invasive plants are indirectly reducing bird abundance in natural ecosystems (Burghardt et al, 2009). 
  • Nationwide, landscape irrigation is estimated to account for nearly one-third of all residential water use, totaling nearly 9 billion gallons per day (EPA).

Inside the movement towards native landscapes

Many people spend their time tirelessly upkeeping lawns out of both habit and desire. But for those who do not desire the look or the upkeep of a lawn, the American dream looks a little different for them. Largely due to the environmental impact of lawns, people are beginning to question whether lawns and their invasive counterparts are beneficial. Growing native plants is an environmentally friendly that has emerged as a viable alternative to traditional landscaping.

What are native plants?

A native plant is any plant that occurs naturally within any given ecosystem. Many plants in America were brought over from other countries and therefore considered non-native or invasive to the new area that they are introduced to. Native plants are often associated with images of colorful flowers, but they also include trees, shrubs, grasses, sedges, forbs, ferns, and mosses. 

The Eastern Redbud tree is a deciduous tree native to Indiana and a great landscaping choice and alternative to the invasive Callery pear. The redbud blooms in spring and has vibrant, purple-pink flowers. Not only is the tree attractive for landscaping and good for the environment, but it is also edible and has medicinal properties.

What are the environmental benefits of native plants?

The environmental benefits of native plants lie in the fact that they are native to the region in which they live, and therefore are uniquely adapted to the soils, climate, weather, and wildlife. This allows native plants to work in symbiosis with the ecosystem to achieve a balance, whereas many invasive plants tend to dominate and take over ecosystems. 

When native plants are replaced by invasive plants in an ecosystem, it can have rippling effects. This is because some wildlife, such as moths, butterflies, and birds, require specific plants throughout their lifecycle. For example, the Karner blue butterfly, which is a federally endangered species, is solely dependent on the wild blue lupine flower.

In this way, biodiversity is reduced because only certain wildlife species can utilize invasive plants, pushing out more sensitive wildlife species, and therefore changing the dynamics of the entire ecosystem. One study demonstrated that properties landscaped with native species also supported significantly more caterpillars and caterpillar species and significantly greater bird abundance, diversity, species richness, biomass, and breeding pairs of native species.

In addition to the biodiversity boost, native plants often have longer root systems, which helps to prevent erosion and store more water. 

Native plants:

  • Protect and boost biodiversity
  • Are easier to grow
  • Are cheaper to maintain
  • Encourage pollination, which is essential for growing food
  • Save water resources
  • Reduce or prevent erosion
  • Reduce water pollution and water loss
  • Protect ecosystem integrity 

Why aren’t native plants everywhere?

Though native plants are becoming increasingly popular among homeowners, their implementation can be a challenge. Homeowner’s associations (HOA) are a major barrier to native landscapes because they often have strict limits on the types of plants that can be grown and how they must be maintained. Almost every subdivision is required to adhere to their HOA rules, although there are occasionally exceptions. 

In 2017, a legal battle ensued in Maryland over a homeowners’ right to landscape with native pollinator plants. HOA-hired attorneys sent letters to Janet Crouch, requesting the removal of native plants, but after a long legal struggle, she was able to keep her pollinator garden. 

If you live in an HOA with strict rules that state what plants you can grow or how high your grass can be, you probably know the struggle. Outdated HOA rules are a major factor in why lawns are still so common, but city codes also have a role to play.

Cities often maintain a set of local rules, often called codes or ordinances, that determine how people and developments should landscape. Like HOAs, these rules can sometimes include provisions that encourage the planting of ornamental, or invasive species, as well as requirements for mowing. 

The good news is that some cities and HOAs are beginning to encourage the use of native plants. For example, Bloomington, Indiana has a statue that prohibits the planting of invasive plants in their city ordinance. The city also has an Environmental Commission department that maintains a wealth of information on the benefits of natural landscaping.

The Indiana Native Plant Society (INPS) is a nonprofit dedicated to advancing native plant education and adoption throughout the state. INPS also works with local environmental organizations like the Indiana Wildlife Federation to “develop accessible, comprehensive information to guide homeowners, HOA groups, and municipalities so that they can successfully incorporate native plants into a wide variety of urban, suburban, and rural landscapes (INPS).”

They have a list of native plants that are good for landscaping and also have several volunteer opportunities to get more involved. 

What can we do?

Even without city codes or HOAs, many people still choose to landscape with invasive plants, or meticulously trim their lawns to remove any shred of biodiversity because of cultural norms. The lawn care business in America most often specializes in mowing, leaf-blowing, herbicide application, and other practices that destroy wildlife habitat and reduce biodiversity. 

The cultural norm of how Americans landscape also prevents them from challenging their own beliefs and habits when it comes to lawn care. Some people may find mowing the grass as therapeutic or might associate it with other benefits. Often people are resistant to change unless they are forced to change or hold the same values that inspires them to change. When people become so accustomed to a practice that they are unwilling to change, it can be hard to steer them in a direction that is good for biodiversity. 

This is one reason why youth education is an often overlooked but critical aspect of native landscapes. Learning the value of native plants from a young age will encourage a culture of responsibility for the Earth and the protection of our natural ecosystems. While not solely focused on native plants, the Environmental Education Association of Indiana (EEAI) is a nonprofit organization that promotes environmental education across the state. They provide resources such as classroom lesson plans, and are hosting an environmental education conference in November 2024. The Hoosier Environmental Council (HEC) recently hosted a webinar covering the benefits of native plants, and you can view the webinar and Q&A from the event here.

Getting involved in local or statewide organizations that promote native plant and environmental education, like INPS, EEAI, and HEC, is a great way to support the native plant movement, but there are several other steps we can take:

  • Learn about native plants through research or hands-on experience
  • Teach children and people about the value of native plants and natural ecosystems
  • Plant native plants in your yard, even if it’s just a small section
  • Create art or write about native plants
  • Create incentives for harvesting and removing invasive species
  • Update HOA ordinances to include language encouraging native plants. To help navigate the HOA rules, the National Wildlife Federation published a Guide to Passing Wildlife-Friendly Property Maintenance Ordinances.
  • Update city codes to include language encouraging and or requiring native plants, especially in larger, tax-funded developments
  • Update city codes to boost preservation and conservation of existing natural areas to curb habitat loss 

Categories: Sustainable Development and Green Infrastructure