Most turf grass species are
non native plant material. The extensive use of turf reduces native biodiversity
in our own unique ecosystems, namely our own backyards.
Monocultures or single species crops are not a natural feature of our ecosystem. We should try to duplicate nature, not recreate it.
Low maintenance of turf still
requires frequent mowing and trimming. Gas powered lawnmowers and trimmers are
worse polluters than your vehicle! Their electrical counterparts use a resource
that we need to conserve.
The perfect lawn syndrome demands applications
of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and supplemental irrigation.
Chemical fertilizers are applied to enhance plant growth and have very
little positive impact on soil. In fact, many of these applied nutrients are
carried away by surface water into our waterways and sewers or they can
eventually leach into our groundwater.
Pesticides are not only harmful
to humans, but can be injurious to non target plants, wildlife and even our
pets. All indigenous living organisms within our ecosystem are there for a
reason. Our attempts to control them for our own aesthetic purposes can have
devastating effects on the balance of nature.
Clean drinking water is quickly
becoming a scarce resource. And yet we waste thousands of litres of this
precious commodity irrigating turf and other non native plant species. We also
risk polluting it by using pesticides and over fertilizing.
Even if we
maintain large turf areas at the minimum (mowing and trimming), think of the
time spent on this undertaking. As a population that never seems to have enough
time in the day, why do we spend endless hours sitting on a lawnmower? And think
of the small fortune we spend on purchasing, maintaining and refueling turf
equipment.
Your environment, your bank account and your busy time schedule will thank you for reducing or even eliminating lawns.
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