Problem

Urban Sprawl Is Rapid

Traditional Yards Harm The Environment

• 40 million acres of traditional yards in the United States
• Lawn is the largest irrigated crop in the US
• Chemicals in 2001 per EPA
  • 101 million pounds of Pesticides applied to home lawns annually
  • Lawn averages 10 times more Fertilizers & Pesticides than Agriculture uses for equivalent area
• 800 million gallons of gasoline burned every week mowing lawns

Importance

Nature Is The
Window To Our
Environmental
Health

Results

Case Study #1

Transition from Traditional to Sustainable (2001-2006)
Number of different species observed in the same yard each year as native plant species were added

Case Study #2

Traditional vs. Sustainable Yards (2005-2006)
Different species observed in adjacent yards during equivalent periods

Additional Results: Study #2

2007 Night Sounds Measurement

Traditional Yard ~Half as Loud as Sustainable Yard

Nematodes Indicate Soil Health

2006 Count Traditional vs. Sustainable

Conclusions

Recommendations To Improve Our Environmental Health

Homeowners

• Reduce lawn area
• Remove Invasive plants
• Add diverse native plants
• Reduce chemical use

Governments

• Promote ‘Green Space’
• Develop programs to curb ‘Urban Sprawl’
• Update weed laws
• Educate the general public

School Officials

• Add ‘sustainable yard care’ to curriculum

Plant Nurseries

• Discontinue selling Invasive plants
• Sell native plants