How Stupid is Our Obsession with Our Turf Grass Lawns?

Costs and Benefits of Turf Grass

Benefits

• Play area
• Attractive? Depends ...
• Feels good
• Smells good
• Employment for low-income workers
• Carbon sink?

Costs

• Irrigation. 1" per week, 20 trillion gallons per year
• Fertilizer
• Herbicide
• Pesticide
• Machinery -
  • fuel cost
  • air pollution
  • noise pollution
• 2017 - 40 
• 40 acres of turf in US, almost the size of Iowa

Lawn Alternatives

Source Freakonomics Radio

In Florida, grass won't grow without chemicals.