It might be time to ditch the water-sucking lawn

Written By Peter Allan

Colleen Cirillo grows a garden of native plants, not grass. Photo submitted by Colleen Cirillo

By Isaac Phan Nay

As hot and dry conditions persist throughout North America, some Canadians are rethinking whether water-hungry grass lawns are a good idea.

This summer, many parts of Canada have seen rivers, aquifers and water reserves run low as the country experiences periods of intense drought. To conserve water, North American cities have targeted lawns — responsible for up to a third of cities’ use of drinking water in the summer. Now, Canadian cities are encouraging residents to let their lawns turn golden brown.

In the U.S., the city of Scottsdale, Ariz., has gone even further to ban grass lawns on some new houses. As of Aug. 15, new single-family homes in the city can no longer have grass lawns in the front yards. The ordinance was widely accepted by residents in the arid desert city.

Colleen Cirillo, the rewilding communities campaigner for the David Suzuki Foundation, said it’s time to rethink manicured green lawns as a cultural norm.

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Peter Allan
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