Say farewell to traditional lawns with eco-gardening

A sizeable front lawn like Pepperdine University’s is hard to miss. The emerald green grass that spans Malibu Canyon Road and Pacific Coast Highway, however, doesn’t lead to the emerald city (of eco-living anyway). Consider this: NASA reports an estimated 32 million acres of lawn has replaced corn as America’s largest irrigated crop by area. That’s a lot of sprinkler action.

Suburbia’s manicured lawn that’s synonymous with “traditional” American front-yard aesthetics is, ironically, a British convention brought over by the Rockefellers (who just had to have it for their Kykuit estate). Forget what the Rockefellers told you, it’s a foreign, wasteful gardening concept when it comes to California’s Mediterranean climate.

“The lawn is the Hummer of the landscape; it’s a big gas guzzler, using lots of water and nonrenewable energy,” says L.A. based author Fritz Haeg in his book, “Edible Estates: Attack on the Front Lawn.”

So, we ask, why not go beyond the lawn? Here’s how:

Garden with Native Plants

“Remove all or part of the lawn and replace it with drought-tolerant California-native plants that will save water, add fragrance, texture and wildlife,” says Lynnette Kampe, Executive Director of Theodore Payne Foundation (TPF).

Try succulents like Agave and Chalk Dudleya or ground-covering plants like low-growing Sage, California Lilac and Coyote Brush. TPF’s California Native Plant guide and Wikipedia offer dozens more. “Not all natives are drought-tolerant,” reminds Kampe. “California is a big state with more plant diversity than any other continental states combined.” So look for ‘drought-tolerant’ or ‘low-water needs.’

Russell Wightman, owner of LA Farmhands, suggests native meadow flowers and perennials, like California Aster, Poppy and Buttercup.  “Also let your lawn turn into a meadow,” he says, recommending Marathon Turf. “When you let your lawn grow, it won’t need to be irrigated as regularly… [and] cutting a lawn too short weakens the grass, making it susceptible to disease.”

Create Edible Turf

You’ll save on groceries growing your own vegetables, GQ magazine reports, to the tune of $600 worth of produce per average square foot garden.

This can be as easy as growing some herbs like Thyme, Rosemary and Parsley, which are often drought-tolerant. Plant varieties you know you’ll eat, advises sustainability expert Kathy Kellogg Johnson, who grows cilantro, green onions and edible flowers like pansies (great for salads). “Squash plants provide consistent quantities and bell peppers are useful for crudités and grilled veggies,” she says. Artichokes have “beautiful blooms and tasty flowering buds” while wall-climbing green beans, cucumbers and snap peas maximize your space.

For more suggestions, see Russell Wightman’s Guide on how to start your fall garden and be sure to visit Theodore Payne Foundation’s nursery October 15-16 for its fall festival and native plant sale.

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