Gardens, Not Grass

Gardens, Not Grass.
8 Compelling Reasons to Make the Switch
By Natalie Wynne Pace
 
In regions suffering from persistent droughts, like Southern California, there is a new movement that offers greater beauty, budget savings, organic food, pollinator havens and even your own personal Eden – turning your grass into a garden. With water scarcity issues challenging how states will share their rivers, aquifers and fresh water sources, creating resilient gardens isn't just smart—it's essential. Gardens featuring native plants, vegetables, and drought-tolerant species can even offer fire resilience, in addition to lower costs of food, maintenance and utility bills. The benefits of planting a garden and native plants also apply to areas that get a lot of rainfall. Free produce, less mowing and pruning, no toxic chemicals — all of these benefit us as humans, as well as the pollinators and other animals that are so important to our food supply.

Here are eight key reasons why gardens are more beautiful than grass.

1. Massive Water Savings to Combat Drought
Grass lawns guzzle water, often accounting for up to 60-70% of household outdoor use in arid areas. Replacing them with gardens can slash that dramatically: for every square foot of turf removed, you save about 44 gallons of water annually. Native or drought-tolerant gardens use up to 85% less water than traditional landscapes, once established. In Southern California, where rebates incentivize turf removal ($3-7 per square foot in some districts), this shift directly eases pressure on strained supplies.

Learn more in The Regenerative Landscaper by Erik Ohlsen.

 

2. Financial Relief on Water Bills and Beyond
The monetary perks are tangible. Watering a typical lawn can cost $8-16 monthly for a modest yard, but a native garden might drop that to just $0.20-0.40. (If you capture your grey water, such as with a simple hose from your washing machine to the yard, the costs are even less.) Add in the labor and maintenance savings, as you’ll have no need of anyone mowing the lawn, no reason to purchase expensive and toxic pesticides and herbicides, and less time will be required for pruning and irrigation. Broader rebates from programs like California's Water$mart can reimburse thousands for conversions, turning upfront effort into long-term savings.

3. Fresh Produce to Offset Family Grocery Costs
Home gardens yield organic vegetables, saving hundreds each month on food bills. US families of four often spend around $100-200 monthly on fresh fruits and vegetables alone, part of broader grocery outlays nearing $1,000. Edible gardens provide nutrient-rich harvests like tomatoes, herbs, and greens, potentially saving hundreds annually while promoting healthier eating, without all the single-use plastic associated with grocery shopping. In drought areas, drought-resistant veggie varieties thrive with minimal input, turning your yard into a cost-saving asset. Whether you plant gardens at home, at school, at church or in an empty community lot, “growing your own food is like printing your own money,” according to the Gangsta Gardener Ron Finley.
 
Learn more about growing your own food from:
 
The Edible Schoolyard Project
The Ron Finley Project
Compton Community Garden (free gardening classes from master gardener Dr. Sherridan Ross)

H.M. King Charles III with children from Damers First School in Poundbury, England. The gardens were planted by eco coordinator and author Edd Moore.

​4. Native Plants: Tailored for Local Resilience
Southern California's native plants, like sages, buckwheats, and ceanothus, evolved in the region's dry climate, requiring little irrigation after establishment. They boast deep roots that access groundwater efficiently, preventing erosion and thriving without chemicals. Unlike imported grass, which struggles in heat and demands constant care, natives create low-maintenance oases that enhance biodiversity and adapt to erratic weather.

5. Boosting Pollinators and Wildlife
Native gardens are pollinator havens, attracting bees, butterflies, and birds with nectar-rich blooms year-round. California's 1,600+ native bee species prefer these plants, improving fruit set in edible gardens and controlling pests naturally. Grass offers no such habitat, but a diverse garden supports the food web—from insects to birds—fostering resilient ecosystems amid habitat loss.

6. Navigating the Colorado River Water Wars
The Colorado River, lifeline for Southern California, faces dire shortages: Lakes Mead and Powell are critically low, with snowpack at just 23% of median in early 2025. A 22-year megadrought, worsened by climate change, has sparked "water wars" among seven states, with allocations cut by millions of acre-feet and negotiations tense. Gardens reduce water demand, easing interstate conflicts (hopefully) and preventing federal interventions (potentially) that could further restrict supplies.

7. Environmental, Financial and Aesthetic Superiority
Beyond utility, gardens cool urban heat islands, filter stormwater, and sequester carbon—benefits grass can't match. They offer vibrant, varied landscapes that evolve with seasons, unlike monotonous lawns. In drought zones, this shift promotes sustainability, supports local economies through rebates, and builds community resilience. Some areas are promoting food security through gleaning programs that distribute organically grown produce to those in need.

8. Native Trees
The color green is a mood enhancer, as is walking in nature. City temperatures can be reduced on average at least 10°F by having more trees and green space and less concrete and asphalt. Trees provide shade, reflect sunlight (instead of absorbing the heat as urban jungles do) and cool the air through evapotranspiration. They also provide homes and sanctuaries for birds.
 
Bottom Line
Embracing gardens over grass isn't about sacrifice. It's about thriving in harmony with our home planet, while also having a lot more money in our budget that we can invest and spend on things we like a lot more than bills. With birdsong, butterflies and organic food dancing in our yard, chances are we’ll even have more of a lilt in our step. This will inspire our neighbors and community and transform our world.
 
Email [email protected] if you have any questions.
 
Please use #EarthGratitude and tag us on Instagram.com/Earth_Gratitude and Instagram.com/NatalieWynnePace, so that we can like and share the progress you are making on turning grass into gardens in your own yard and community. 
 
Read my book The Power of 8 Billion: It’s Up to Us to learn more ways to live a rich and green life. Check out the 5-part docuseries at EarthGratitude.org for information on:
 

• Green Kids
• Animals and Conservation
• Food and Health
• Everyday Sustainability
• The Power of Gratitude

Watch our Earth Gratitude videos and download your free e-books featuring the world's most respected experts on conseration and sustainability, including H.M. King Charles III (when he was The Prince of Wales), H.H. The Dalai Lama, H.M. Queen Diambi,  Sia, Ed Begley Jr., ​XPRIZE, Wangari Maathai, Elon Musk, Arianna Huffington, The Duchess of Northumberland, ​Deepak Chopra,EARTHDAY.ORG, Ron Finley, the NRDC, Global Green, ​Lynne Twist, Green Our Planet, Life is Good, Master Sha, Leon Krier, Kiss the Ground, Nathalie Kelley, Alice Waters, The Edible Schoolyard Project, The Pachamama Alliance, WildlifeDirect and more. 

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