A Beautiful Yard with Half the Effort: How Biodiversity Can Work for You

Photo by Skitterphoto from Pexels

Neil Stawski checks in again with another guest article…

According to the American Time Use Survey, the average citizen in the United States spends about 70 hours a year on yard work. Considering that number takes into account all the renters, city dwellers, and non-yard owning people as well as homeowners, it is actually quite staggering to think of how many hours we are expected to mow, prune, and weed our lawns and gardens. Truthfully, who has that kind of time?

While Americans love their lawns, the truth is this common home feature is both misplaced and outdated. The concept of a lawn as we know it originated in aristocratic Europe, particularly in the fertile countrysides of Britain. As Europeans colonized the North American continent, many of them brought this landscaping trend along with them, mimicking the homes of the aristocracy amongst the vast swaths of the New World. Knowing the history, it is easier to understand the thought process behind so many Americans esteeming their lawns as a status symbol.

But most of the ecosystems in the United States don’t experience 35 inches of rain each year that can support acres of turf. In fact, almost 90 million Americans are living in an area where there is drought. So those who want that lush, green lawn have to use up water their area doesn’t have and implement potentially harmful fertilizers and pesticides in order to manipulate the land to make it look the way they want.

Why Biodiversity and Local Flora Are the Answer

Instead of a yard characterized by meticulously cut grass, why not engineer a biologically diverse ecosystem that requires less maintenance while giving back to the earth around it? Curating a yard with local flora means you already know that the flowers and grasses will thrive in the habitat. There’s no need for invasive fertilizers that disrupt the natural balance of the soil. You can also count on an increased presence of local fauna including pollinators like birds, bees, and butterflies that will help take care of the garden for you.

In fact, when you switch from a plain, old grass lawn to a yard teeming with biodiversity, the less work you put into it the better. Nature doesn’t like disturbances — that’s why there is less wildlife in urban areas. While homeowners should still commit time to garden upkeep including things like pulling weeds, laying down mulch, and planting new species, a biologically diverse yard thrives when the gardeners approach it with a light touch.

When it comes to choosing native plants that you can outfit your yard with, the National Wildlife Federation offers a handy Native Plant Finder tool that allows you to see what indigenous flora you may want to work with. Of course, not every bud in your garden has to hail from your hometown. Using drought-resistant plants from more arid climates can also help save water on top of the time spent on yard work. People with “black thumbs” can also look into low-maintenance outdoor plants that are super hard to kill, such as wild geranium, poppies, daffodils, and oregano. Just make sure when planning your garden and yard layouts you take into account each plant’s particular sun and shade needs.

Americans spend upward of around 70 hours a year on their lawns and gardens. If you’d rather get that time back, it’s a great idea to ditch the yards of turf and instead curate a biologically diverse habitat in your yard. Not only are they better for the environment, but a yard that is closer to what nature intends requires less maintenance from homeowners.

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