That Green Lawn and the Cost of Perfection

What We’ve Been Taught to Value

There is a certain kind of lawn we have been taught to admire: clipped short, intensely green, uniform, and controlled.

No dandelions.
No violets.
No clover.
No deviation.

Manicured to perfection, orderly, lush green grass like a carpet, and not a weed to be found. 

But that version of perfection comes with a cost, one that is largely invisible, yet increasingly difficult to ignore.

 

The Hidden Health Implications

What maintains that level of control is often not just water and mowing, but repeated applications of herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers. A growing body of research suggests that chronic exposure to pesticides is associated with serious health risks, including neurological disorders and cancer.

A recent case-controlled study found that individuals living near golf courses—where pesticide use is typically high—had significantly higher odds of developing Parkinson’s disease, particularly within one mile of exposure zones (Paul et al., 2025). While this does not establish direct causation, it adds to a consistent pattern of concern around long-term environmental exposure.

Broader reviews of human epidemiological studies reinforce this concern. Research has identified associations between pesticide exposure and increased risk of certain cancers, including acute myeloid leukemia and colorectal cancer (Kim et al., 2024; Xie, et al., 2024).

This isn’t an alarm; it is awareness. Because what we normalize in our landscapes becomes part of the environment we live in every day. Becoming aware helps us make different choices. 

 

Soil Is Not Dirt.  It’s Alive.

Beneath every lawn is something far more complex than a surface: Soil is a living ecosystem. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), soil health is defined as the continued capacity of soil to function as a living system that sustains plants, animals, and humans (USDA NRCS, n.d.).

Healthy soil contains vast communities of microorganisms: bacteria, fungi, and insects that:

• Cycle nutrients
• Store carbon
• Retain water
• Support plant resilience
• Help regulate ecosystems

When soil is repeatedly exposed to synthetic chemicals and stripped to a monoculture, those living systems are disrupted. And recovery is not immediate.

In long-term studies, even after 40 years of restoration, soils had not fully returned to their original condition, highlighting the slow and complex nature of ecological recovery. (Frank, et al., 2020). 

That matters because we can degrade soil in a single season, but rebuilding it requires patience and sometimes long-term care.

 

What We Once Knew

Not long ago, many of the plants we are warring with to achieve that perfect lawn were part of everyday care.

Dandelions, violets, plantain, and chickweed contain healing and nutritional properties.  Dandelion greens are very high in vitamins K, A, and C.  An infusion of plantain and oil makes a pain-relieving massage oil. Violets emerge in early spring and may be the only source of nutrition for bees.   

These were not considered problems. They were part of a living knowledge system that, through observation and use, was passed from hand to hand, most often by women working in kitchens, gardens, and communities.

In Women, Herbal Wisdom, and the Unbroken Work of Care, we reflected on how this knowledge was carried quietly across the generations, rooted in relationship and shaped by place. The knowledge was sustained through daily acts of care rather than formal systems of recognition. 

That lineage did not disappear.

But in many cases, it was overshadowed.

As land became something to control rather than relate to, plants once understood as supportive were recast as undesirable. What had been medicine became maintenance. What had been a relationship became management, a thing to dominate and bend to one’s will. 

And in that shift, something important was lost, not just knowledge, but connection.

 

Rethinking “Weeds”

A weed is often defined simply as a plant growing where it is not wanted. But that definition says more about human preference than ecological value.

Dandelions, as mentioned above, are among the earliest blooming plants in spring, providing a food source for pollinators when few other options exist. Their leaves are also nutrient-dense and have long been used in traditional food and herbal practices (University of Vermont Extension, n.d.). 

Violets serve as host plants for fritillary butterflies and contribute to early-season biodiversity (University of Minnesota Extension, n.d.).

These are not harmful plants.

They are not aligned with the aesthetic of a uniform lawn, with this pursuit of flawlessness.

That distinction matters.

Because when we label beneficial plants as problems, we often respond in ways that cause greater harm than the plants themselves ever could. 

Discernment Matters – Not All Plants Are the Same

This is not an argument that all plants should be left alone. Some plants, like kudzu, are genuinely invasive and can overwhelm ecosystems, smother native species, and damage trees under their weight (Mississippi Forestry Commission, n.d.).

The goal is not inaction; the goal is discernment.

Understanding the difference between:

• A beneficial, naturally occurring plant
• A neutral presence
• A truly destructive invasive species

This kind of awareness leads to more thoughtful, less reactive land care.

 

A Different Way Forward – The Natural Yard Movement

Across communities, a quieter shift is happening. People are beginning to reimagine their yards, not as controlled surfaces, but as living environments. Often called ‘rewilding’, it replaces high-maintenance lawns with native plants, clover, or ornamental grasses to create biodiverse, water-saving habitats. This shift improves local ecosystems, supports pollinators, especially during initiatives like “No Mow March,” and reduces chemical, water, and fertilizer usage. (City of Winston Salem). 

These approaches are increasingly supported by ecological research showing improvements in biodiversity, soil health, and water retention when chemical inputs are reduced.

This shows up in:

• Native plant gardens
• Pollinator-friendly spaces
• Reduced mowing practices
• “No Mow May” participation
• Bee lawns that integrate low-growing flowering plants

These approaches are not about neglect.

They are about the relationship to the land and to the living beings the land sustains, including us.

They reduce chemical input, support biodiversity, improve soil health, and create space for ecological balance to return (Bee City USA, n.d.; University of Minnesota Extension, n.d.).

And they invite a different question:

Not “How do I eliminate what I don’t want?”
But “What is already here, and what role does it play, and how can I support it?”

Interestingly, re-wilding takes less work, less expense, and increases enjoyment. 

 

Earth Day – A Reflection Point

Earth Day often invites us to think globally.

We think of climate, conservation, and even the policies that support life or diminish it.

But it can also bring us back to something more immediate and local:

The ground beneath our feet.

If we care about wellness, it cannot stop at what we consume.

It has to include:

• The soil our food grows in
• The spaces our children play in
• The ecosystems we participate in every day

A flawless lawn may look like care.

But care, in its truest sense, sustains life.

 

A Living Landscape

Maybe the goal is not perfection.

Maybe it is participation.

A yard that allows for violets in the spring.
A few dandelions for early pollinators.
Less chemical input.
More ecological awareness.

Not unmanaged—but managed differently.

Because the most beautiful landscapes are not the most controlled, they are the most alive. Some say you can judge the health of soil by the number of earthworms that live in it. 

 

Soil as Relationship

If soil is alive, then land care is not just maintenance; it is a relationship. While some improvements can occur within a few years, meaningful changes in soil structure and function often require sustained, long-term effort. (Ward et al., 2021)

Luke Hoey’s work offers a practical look at how soil health can be restored and supported through intentional practices. As a successful urban farmer, Luke has developed a depth of understanding in how to restore life to over-treated land. He shares this wisdom in a short 12-minute video that will help you develop a new appreciation for dirt. You can find him most Saturdays at the Greensboro Farmers’ Curb Market. 

View the Video Here

 

What we are relearning now is not entirely new. It is, in many ways, a return to ways of seeing and tending that were carried forward through generations, often quietly, often without recognition. The work of care did not stop; we are being invited to notice it again.

 

What You Can Do 

You don’t have to redesign your entire yard to begin. Small shifts matter.

• Pause before spraying.
  Notice what is actually growing. Identify it. Some plants may be supporting pollinators or improving soil conditions.
• Let one section be.
  Choose a small area of your yard to grow more naturally this season. Observe what returns.
• Mow less, not never.
  Even reducing mowing frequency can allow early blooms to emerge and support local pollinators.
• Skip one chemical application.
  Whether it’s weed control or pest treatment, consider where you can reduce input and explore alternatives.
• Feed the soil, not just the surface.
  Compost, mulch, and organic matter help rebuild soil life over time. Yes, those pesky fall leaves are soil nutrition!
• Learn one plant.
  This week, identify a plant you’ve previously called a weed. Learn what it does, who it supports, and how it functions in the ecosystem. Early- spring chickweed tastes like spinach and is healthy too. 
• Start a conversation.
  Share what you’re noticing with a neighbor or friend. These shifts often begin through casual conversation and spread through connection.

Volunteering is a Power

It’s easy to underestimate what small, consistent actions can do.

But the numbers tell a different story.

Through the work of the North Carolina Wildlife Federation alone, volunteers have already made a measurable impact this year:

• 796 volunteers across 57 restoration projects
• 1,006 native trees and shrubs planted
• 40,954 pounds of litter removed from wildlife habitats

And that’s just what can be counted.

 

What can’t be measured is just as important:

• People reconnecting with the natural world
• A deeper understanding of the ecosystems we depend on
• Cleaner air and water that benefit entire communities
• Healthier soil and more resilient landscapes
• Stronger neighborhoods formed through shared purpose

This is how change actually happens.
Not all at once, but through people showing up, again and again.

 

Get Involved in the Community

The conversation about land, soil, and care doesn’t end with awareness.
It becomes meaningful when we participate.

Across North Carolina, individuals and organizations are doing the steady work of restoration through rebuilding soil, protecting habitats, and creating space for life to thrive again.

You can be part of that work.

• Support land conservation through Piedmont Land Conservancy
• Volunteer locally with Greensboro Beautiful
• Get involved in native plant restoration through the North Carolina Native Plant Society
• Join habitat and wildlife efforts with the North Carolina Wildlife Federation
• Participate in tree planting and environmental education with We Plant It Forward
• Support regional land and trail restoration with Triangle Land Conservancy

There are opportunities across the state to:

• Restore native plant habitats
• Remove invasive species
• Plant pollinator-supporting trees and shrubs
• Help protect fragile ecosystems like hemlock forests

You don’t have to do everything.
You just have to choose something: → individual action → community power → lasting change!

 

References 

Bee City USA. (n.d.). No Mow May. https://beecityusa.org/no-mow-may/

City of Winston Salem, https://www.cityofws.org/3281/Natural-Landscaping

Frank, K., Schilling, K., & Tiemann, L. (2020). Soil health recovery after grassland reestablishment on cropland: The effects of time and topographic position. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 84(2). https://doi.org/10.1002/saj2.20007

Kim, K.-H., Kabir, E., & Jahan, S. A. (2024). Exposure to pesticides and the associated human health effects. Science of the Total Environment, 575, 525–535. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27614863/

Mississippi Forestry Commission. (n.d.). Kudzu. https://www.mfc.ms.gov/forest-health/invasive-plants/kudzu/

Paul, K. C., et al. (2025). Proximity to golf courses and risk of Parkinson’s disease. JAMA Network Open, 8(1), e2833716. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2833716

United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. (n.d.). Soil health. https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/conservation-basics/natural-resource-concerns/soil/soil-health

University of Minnesota Extension. (n.d.). Planting and maintaining a bee lawn. https://extension.umn.edu/landscape-design/planting-and-maintaining-bee-lawn

University of Vermont Extension. (n.d.). Dandelions: Foe or friend? https://www.uvm.edu/extension/news/dandelions-foe-or-friend

Ward, E. B., Doroski, D. A., Felson, A. J., Hallett, R. A., Oldfield, E. E., Kuebbing, S. E., & Bradford, M. A. (2021). Positive long-term impacts of restoration on soils in an experimental urban forest. Ecological Applications, 31(6), e02391. https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.2391

Xie, Pin-Peng, et al. (2024). Exposure to pesticides and risk of colorectal cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Environmental Pollution, March, 2024. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38341063/