Re-envisioning an American Tradition: the Turfgrass Lawn

In today’s Philadelphia Inquirer, garden writer Virginia A. Smith discusses the alternatives to having a traditional turfgrass lawn. The turfgrass lawn has been an icon of the American landscape since the mid-19^th century. There is movement slowly building through the US to consider more environmentally friendly alternatives to these water-intensive, fertilizer-dependent, monoculture plantings.

Carex plantaginea. photo credit: R. Robert

At the Scott Arboretum, we have been trialing lawn alternatives for over 3 years. Our current favorites include Carex pensylanica, Carex laxiculmus Bunny Blue^TM , Carex flacca ‘Blue Zinger’, and Carex plantaginea. Check out more about our program and the plants we are trailing in the Green Design brochure. Read what sustainable garden writer Susan Harris had to say about our program and plant selections.

To learn more about re-envisioning our turfgrass lawns check out Virginia Smith’s article and her interview with Chuck Hinkle, the garden supervisor at the Scott Arboretum, who oversees our lawn alternative program.