Survey Shows LA’s Replacing Grass To Reduce Maintenance Time, Utility Costs

 

Photo Credit: Prairie Roots

According to a survey by the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), shows landscape architects replacing grass to reduce maintenance time, utility costs and using food and vegetable gardens as green alternatives to traditional lawns.

Gardens for homegrown food have remained an integral part of American homesteads from the early pioneers to World War II Victory Gardens. However, a new survey shows that food gardens have reemerged as a new technique to increase the sustainability of a home. Nearly one in five (19.3%) residential landscape architects is replacing part or all of traditional grass lawns with food/vegetable gardens, according to a survey by the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA).

Not only do you benefit from fresh produce, but these gardens offer lower maintenance time and utility costs compared to turf grass while substantially increasing the sustainability of a home, says ASLA President Angela Dye, FASLA. Plus, there’s nothing more convenient or sustainable than home-grown food.

Food gardens can be easy, rewarding and sustainable. For starters, don’t spend a dime on mulch when you can reuse your leftover leaves from the fall. Additionally, grass clippings from other parts of your yard make an excellent weed suppressant.

Photo Credit: BlueOregon

Many classic vegetables like tomatoes require starting from seeds (start now if you plan on using seed-based vegetables). However, perennial plants offer a lower-maintenance alternative and come back every year. Some great examples include asparagus – especially the purple passion variety, with 20 percent more sugar than regular varieties – as well as blueberry bushes, blackberries and rhubarb.

Founded in 1899, ASLA is the national professional association for landscape architects, representing more than 18,200 members in 48 professional chapters and 68 student chapters. The Society’s mission is to lead, to educate, and to participate in the careful stewardship, wise planning, and artful design of our cultural and natural environments. Members of the Society use their “ASLA” suffix after their names to denote membership and their commitment to the highest ethical standards of the profession. Learn more about landscape architecture online at www.asla.org