Lawns
Southwest Utah Lawn ‘Buyback’ Program Pays Off
Washington County has dramatically reduced per-capita water use, but the region’s explosive growth means increased demand for water.
California Agency Awards $38 Million for Turf Replacement
The grant funds grass replacement rebates for commercial and residential properties and water-saving devices for fire stations.
Opinion: The Time for ‘Yard Reform’ is Now
Replacing lawns with native plants and grasses saves water and improves biodiversity, but some cities make the practice illegal.
The Declining Appeal of Lawns
Long held as a symbol of middle-class success and the American Dream, homogenous, monocultural lawns are quickly falling out of favor as people opt for more ecologically friendly gardens that conserve water and increase biodiversity.
Aurora Restricts ‘Cool Weather Turf’ For New Development
Drought is reshaping western U.S. landscapes. Las Vegas banned ornamental grass in 2021. Aurora is now the first municipality in Colorado to curb the use of some grasses in new developments.
The Rise of Artificial Turf
Once scratchy and unrealistic, artificial grass has come a long way. Now, it’s quickly becoming a popular lawn replacement as droughts and climate change make traditional lawns harder to maintain.
Opinion: To Protect Biodiversity, Eliminate All Leaf Blowers
Electric and battery-powered leaf blowers have a reduced impact on pollution and human health, but our lawn care practices continue to harm plant and animal habitats.
The Suburbs, Reimagined
Eight experts produce a "manifesto for a new suburbia."
More Cash for Lawns in Vegas
Las Vegas home and business owners can now receive $3 for every square foot of lawn they replace with less water-intensive landscaping.
As Drought Returns to Texas, Report Recommends Stricter Rules on Outdoor Water Use
A report from a coalition of nonprofits recommends, among other restrictions, allowing outdoor watering only twice per week.
The Case Against Front Lawns
A writer collects evidence from pop culture, literature, and more in painting a portrait of the American relationship to front lawns—crabgrass and all.
Grass Grift
L. A. company Turf Terminators promised low impact lawns in exchange for city rebates, but delivered shoddy work and hot rocks.
Let the Lawns Go
According to one Dallas suburbanite, the American lawn is a "decadent and unsustainable totem[s] of middle-class prosperity."
America's Largest 'Crop': the Lawn
A NASA study finds that no irrigated vegetation covers more surface in the United States than the collection of lawns that are so important to the American identity.
Libertarian-Friendly Drought Control
Arid states can both reduce water use and avoid intrusive government by eliminating zoning regulations that mandate or encourage water-wasting lawns.
Drought Killing Your Lawn? Spray Paint It
Suburbanites facing fines from municipalities or trying to impress their neighbors have an alternative to keep their lawns shining while still saving water—spray paint.
Should Cities Mandate Yards?
In communities across the U.S., setback requirements and lot coverage maximums mandate acres of private open spaces. Eliminating such requirements could produce more affordable and more eco-friendly places, argues Matthew Yglesias.
Coaxed by Cities, Southwest U.S. Homeowners Say Goodbye to Grass
With strained water supplies a growing problem throughout the Southwestern U.S., cities from Austin to Los Angeles are using carrots and sticks to coax homeowners into adopting drought-resistant landscapes. Not all are pleased to see the grass go.
L.A.'s Cash for Cacti Program Ups the Ante
Since 2009, the L.A. Department of Water and Power's Landscape Incentive Program has convinced 850 area property owners to replace their grass lawns with more sustainable plants, mulch, and permeable pathways. Now DWP is upping the ante.
The Ecological Value of Lawns
I appreciate natural environments. I have always enjoyed walking in wilderness and cycling on rural roads, and I understand the ecological value provided by undeveloped lands, which include clean water, air and wildlife habitat. I also enjoy local fresh vegetables and fruits and so appreciate the value of preserving regional farmlands. Planners call these "greenspace," or more generally "openspace" since some, such as deserts and waterways, are open but not necessarily green.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
