Yards Alive!
Yards Alive is an exciting new program established to educate homeowners about more sustainable landscaping practices. Homeowners are encouraged to consider alternatives to the traditional turf grass yard in favor of ecologically friendly alternatives. The traditional lawn requires frequent watering plus regular applications of chemical fertilizers and herbicides to maintain its appearance. These chemicals frequently end up polluting our waterways and lead to severe monetary and ecological costs. The maintenance to these lawns also requires the use of large amounts of fossil fuels. Turfgrass can slow soil erosion and absorb some pollutants, but there are many beautiful native plants, shrubs, and trees that will perform the same job much more effectively without the use of problematic fertilizers and fossil fuels. Native plants also feed and support insects and birds much more than typical landscaping plants. The program seeks to help homeowners identify alternative uses for much of the space taken up by turfgrass. Example yards are provided for inspiration, advice on plant selection and to connect residents that need help with planting with volunteers. We are hoping to replace a large portion of residential turf grass with native gardens so that our Columbia yards can be havens for bees, songbirds, butterflies, insects, and other pollinators who have seen their habitats decrease as land development has increased.
- Scope: County/City
- Type: Citizen
- Focus: Community outreach
- Location: Columbia MD
- Website: Yards Alive!
- Presence is online and in-person
- This page last updated: 09:50PM 24 February 2024
- Page managers: alice (owner)
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