For several years, climate change activists have been telling the world to change its ways immediately, before irreversible damage is made. Unfortunately, there are many simple, daily activities that are ruining the environment, such as the mundane task of caring for our lawns. The Environmental Protection Agency said that from the 320 gallons of water a family uses each day, about a third of that water is used to quench our grassy lawns. The U.S. alone utilizes 9 billion gallons of water daily for residential use. Kim Kardashian was even recently called out for using nine years’ worth of water in one month across various properties, per BuzzFeedNews.
If you’re hoping to help the environment, or just give your lawn a new look, we’ve conducted the perfect survey for you. We asked participants to answer which type of low-maintenance lawn alternative they would consider using in their yards and gave them six options: Clover, fescue grass, artificial turf, creeping thyme, moss, and mint. We’ll reveal the top contenders and the reasons behind their popularity.
Looks like the real thing
Out of 606 respondents, 26.07% (158 people) chose artificial turf as the low-maintenance lawn alternative they would consider for their yard, according to our survey. There are many benefits to installing artificial turf, such as its ability to withstand drought, per Heavenly Greens. It doesn’t need to be regularly watered, but only occasionally rinsed out to avoid any weird smells or dust build-up. This type of material can be especially helpful in areas with water restrictions due to a lack of rainwater.
Heavenly Greens also states that artificial turf is extremely low maintenance, which is a great benefit for families who are constantly busy. This type of material is also very durable, and areas with high foot traffic are able to resist any type of damage. As long as your artificial grass is installed properly with a filler, the green blades are able to stand up straight no matter how many times you walk across it.
Fescue Grass
Out of 606 respondents, fescue grass was a close second. 25.91% (157 people) chose this option as the low-maintenance lawn alternative they would consider for their yards. Its popularity may be due to the fact that it is very durable and does well in U.S. states that experience a variety of seasons, according to Lawn Chick. It’s also resistant to shade, drought, and disease. Fescue grass comes in many different varieties, and some can resist damage from insects, which removes your need for pesticides and lowers maintenance concerns.
This grass is also able to stay green for the entire year. It’s typically a regular green during the colder months and becomes a pale green during months when the temperatures rise. The only downside to this low-maintenance alternative is that it typically doesn’t do well in U.S. states located in the Southeast or Southwestern region due to the constant, hot weather.
The following are the other options from most to least amount of votes: Clover with 119 votes (19.64%), creeping thyme with 83 votes (13.70%), moss with 56 votes (9.24%), and mint with 33 votes (5.45 votes).
