The Grass Isn't Always 'Greener,' but It Can Be

Manicured lawns are as American as baseball and burgers; they cover 30 million acres in the United States, an area larger than Pennsylvania. We expend sizable amounts of time, money and effort taking care of them, yet the conventional methods of keeping lawns green are anything but.

Americans use up to 10 times more pesticides on lawns than farmers use on crops, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Most synthetic lawn fertilizers and herbicides are petroleum-based. Not only are these chemicals a threat to the people, pets, native animals and birds that spend time on the lawn, they also run off into rivers and groundwater used for drinking. Pesticides also put the Chesapeake Bay and its crab and frog populations at risk.

Lawn-chemical restrictions are in place throughout much of Canada, but the United States lags behind. "Beginning over a generation ago, lobbyists prevailed on state legislators across the nation to pass preemption laws, which forbid local municipalities from passing pesticide rules," says Ted Steinberg, a professor at Case Western Reserve University and author of "American Green: The Obsessive Quest for the Perfect Lawn" (Norton, 2006). "This from a country that prides itself on freedom -- give me a break!"

"The most eco-friendly thing to do with a lawn is to not have a lawn," says Jim Lapides, spokesman for the American Society of Landscape Architects, which is headquartered in the District. But that doesn't mean your yard should be left barren. After all, grasses and plants absorb carbon dioxide and clean the air. The key is to work with nature, not against it. Here's how:

Reduce the size of your lawn. Consider planting shrubs, gardens, wooded areas and even native wildflower meadows instead. "Native plants learn to thrive on their own; that's the ultimate form of low maintenance," Lapides says. The landscape architects' society planted sedum on its roof, "and we've never watered it, even in the dead heat of summer," he says.

Water less. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, an astonishing 30 percent of water consumption in the eastern United States goes toward lawns. "Lawns need a lot less water than people think they do," Lapides says. Overwatering results in plants with shorter roots, which are less resistant to drought. Water as infrequently as your grass type will allow; set up rain barrels and use the accumulated water whenever possible. "Use a hose and give it a good soak in the morning, when less water will evaporate," Lapides says. "If you have to use sprinklers, don't use the kind that shoot up high; you'll lose more water to evaporation."

Plant native and drought-resistant grasses. They often have longer roots than traditional grass. Buffalo grass and mixed fescues are low-maintenance options that bend over themselves to create a carpetlike look. And though it's sometimes considered a nuisance by lawn purists, clover is one of the best green ground covers: It's a nitrogen fixer, meaning that it fertilizes the soil.

Keep grass blades long; they'll require less watering. Rather than throwing away clippings, leave them on the lawn. They'll decompose, fertilizing the lawn and preserving its carbon-absorbing properties. (Clippings that decompose in a landfill emit methane, a greenhouse gas.)

Use organic fertilizers and compost instead of synthetics. If you don't have a compost pile, start one. (For details about how, visit http://www.washingtonpost.com/source and see the article posted in the Eco Wise section titled " A Few Simple Steps for Composting.")

Choose a manual mower. Gasoline-powered mowers spew carcinogenic exhaust and cause unpleasant noise pollution. Electric mowers may eliminate the localized pollution, but they still rely on power from the grid, which contributes to global warming. For aeration, wear spiked sandals and walk across the lawn instead of relying on a machine.

Don't fear dandelions and insects. Less than 10 percent of insects are harmful to plants, according to the EPA, and pesticides kill such beneficial insects as ladybugs and dragonflies. A healthy lawn surrounded by diverse plants is the best way to control pest and weed problems.

Use planet-friendly lawn-care services. Those listed by the Chesapeake Club -- whose standards for lawn care were developed with the bay's well-being in mind -- can be found at http://www.chesapeakeclub.org/nlawndc.html. If you use a service, talk to the provider about organic fertilizer and chemical-free integrated pest management systems.

-- Eviana Hartman