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Tear Up Your Lawn

Why do we devote so much water to a superficial end?

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 30, 2009 6:00 PM CDT

(Newser) – Matthew Fleischer has always hated lawns as wasteful and useless. But his hate is at a fevered pitch after reading about how the desire for lush green grass in literally draining states dry. America’s lawns and golf courses require about 200 gallons of water per citizen per day. We could curb drought if we switched to warm-season varieties of grass—but that would mean lawns would go brown in the winter.

So are the powers that be pushing a PR campaign to convince people it’s OK to have a brown lawn sometimes, if it averts ecological disaster? No, Fleischer writes for True/Slant—instead we have scientists trying to genetically engineer green, low-maintenance grass, or politicians lobbying for ever-more elaborate irrigation systems. “Running out of water is a big deal,” Fleischer writes. “So tear up your lawn. Or at least let it go brown for a month or two.”

A typical suburban lawn.
A typical suburban lawn.   (Shutterstock)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 14 comments
I_hate_to_say
Oct 1, 2009 12:58 PM CDT
And don't forget Sunset Magazine.
I_hate_to_say
Oct 1, 2009 12:57 PM CDT
Great comments, newser community. Keep them coming. My contribution would be about xeriscape landscaping. Check out this google search and find out what works in your area. http://www.google.com/search? client=safari&rls=en&q=xeriscape+landscaping &ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
Spudsy
Oct 1, 2009 12:20 PM CDT
Ever since I became old enough for dad to turn over the old armstrong lawn mower to me, I have failed to understand the attraction to watering or fertilizing something you will cut and not eat. It is a massive waste of water and petroleum. I have almost attained my goal of letting a weed called creeping charlie take over my yard. You have to mow it about once a month. And I still use an armstrong to cut it. For you youngsters, that is reel mower that you provide the power to with your arms, and back.

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