Letter to the Editor: Cultivating Sustainable Lawns

Editor's note: This piece was written by Mary Reilly. It has not been edited. If you'd like to submit a letter to the editor, e-mail michelle@patch.com.

In response to the 7/18 column How Zoning Works: On the Surface.

This is a good article – clear and clean so anyone reading it can understand it. I respect the author for that. Now that I've said that, I'm going to make it more complicated: To start, it's good to remember that the Rahway River runs through our town.

It's not just our property that floods, but our neighbors and those who live downstream. Another interesting detail is that grass, itself, is not sustainable. To keep a "nice lawn" requires herbicide, lime, fertilizer, and a lot of water (which, itself, requires energy) – all of which have negative environmental impacts.

Fertilizer can, under certain conditions, create NOx, a powerful greenhouse gas. Herbicides and fertilizers can play havoc in the Rahway River, and the former with the health of the people who come into contact with it. Have you ever questioned why we even have lawns – what makes us put something in the yard that requires a chunk of money or, worse, our blessed weekend hours to maintain? It goes back to the English and their need to keep the area around the castle clear – so they could see if they are being attacked. Certainly vestigial reasoning, if you ask me.

The marketing around lawns and lawn care is so fierce that we dare not question it. A nice lawn is the sign of prosperity – a status symbol. In reality, however, it's a sign that we do what the culture tells us to.

An even more sustainable lawn can still have grass, but both seeded and natural (often referred to as "weeds") without the extra fertilizer, herbicide, and humongous water use—particularly during dry spells.

Lawns that don't require so much upkeep are more sustainable. They are also healthier for people and animals who come in contact with it. Finally, permeability can be improved with more natural landscaping, such as trees, bushes, and Consider keeping the permeable surface abundant with these alternatives to conventional lawns, and encourage your neighbors to join you.