Turf lawns have their place. They are great for sports, large gatherings of people, and as dog parks. However, some turf is non-essential, meaning it is solely ornamental and not used for recreation or civic purposes. Non-essential turf lawns are typically planted with Kentucky Bluegrass. Across our nation, this non-essential turf consumes 40 million acres of land as our largest, most irrigated, and chemical-laden crop. It uses 12x more water than native planting. They are a monoculture that stymies biodiversity and has directly contributed to the loss of insect and bird populations.

 

In stark contrast, native landscapes are productive ecosystems that create oxygen, store carbon, clean water, and pollinate our gardens. Native landscapes restore the connection between native plant and native pollinators, who rely on specialized plants for their food source. Native plants that thrive in our semi-desert region are accustomed to dry conditions and alkaline soils. Choosing native plants uses far less water than a turf alternative, and reconnects our landscape to its native habitat. 

 

Beeing Friendly means using our landscape wisely to restore habitat for native plants and buzzing bees. A healthy ecosystem is vital for a healthy community!

 

Native Landscape                                        Turf Lawn

Conserves Water                                                Consumes Water 

Natural Beauty                                                    Homogeny

Biodiverse                                                           Monoculture

Supports pollinators                                           Hinders pollinators

Low Maintenance                                               Ongoing Maintenance