Stay Off the Grass

Why are so many Americans obsessed with having so much grass in their yards?

Well, the obsession dates back to the 18^th century when wealthy Americans traveling in Europe came home with visions of rolling English estates in their heads.  Even then though lawns were exclusively luxury items for those wealthy enough to afford the labor required to cut them by hand.  Most Americans made due with packed dirt and small gardens.  This all changed though with the advent of the garden hose and mechanical mower in the late 19^th century.  Now the average American suddenly found luxury at their fingertips and rushed to emulate the immaculate lawns of the wealthy.

Today’s lawns are so ubiquitous that few even stop to question why we have them.  Many of those with immaculately groomed lawns live in dry or even desert areas where water is scarce and grass would never grow naturally. 

If you are thinking about building a new home, you should think about greening all aspects of your home site.  When designing a LEED home, landscaping is an important part of the equation.   Want to make your new home more green?  The following are just a few things you should take into consideration when designing your outdoor living space.

Use Native Plant Species

Native grasses, trees, groundcover and wildflowers stabilize soil, improve soil quality, increase water infiltration and recycle nutrients.  They require less fertilizers and are naturally suited for your local climate. 

Select Low Maintenance Species

Reduce the amount of waste you send to landfills by selecting species that need less pruning and trimming.  Compost plant waste whenever possible.

Maintain Your Soil

Avoid the need for chemical additives by regularly composting and mulching, and selecting soil regenerative plant species. Help maintain healthy soil with MANTIS® ComposT-Twin – for a continuous supply of compost! Free Activator and Guide to Composting. One-year money-back guarantee.

 Conserve Water

Choose species that thrive with little water and that can also help the soil maintain water longer.  If you must irrigate, think about using alternatives to potable water and setup a grey water or rain collecting irrigation system.  At the least, you should use drip irrigation rather than traditional sprinkler systems. 

Conserve Energy

Save gasoline and reduce pollution by eliminating the lawn and need for a lawnmower.  Save on cooling your home by strategically placing trees, especially large canopy species, to shade the house during the day.

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