HORROR STORIES or LAWN-RELATED STATISTICS
Just statistics -- nothing more, nothing less! And no one will be able to tell you you are making any of this up! Every single fact or statement is documented -- the numbers at the end of each paragraph refering to the source reference(s), given after each page as pages would print.
I. Pesticides, Herbicides, and Fertilizer
Each year in the US, over 70 MILLION TONS of chemical fertilizers and pesticides are used on residential lawns and gardens. [2]
The average homeowner uses approximately 10 times the amount of chemical pesticides per acre as farmers. [3]
Lawn-care pesticides kill approximately 7 million birds in the US each year. [4]
Pesticides kill between 60 and 90% of earthworms (which are important for soil health) where they are used. [1]
Pesticides can be tracked into homes, where they can build up in carpets, clothing and other material, putting families, especially children, at risk of chronic exposure. [5-6]
“Pesticides have been linked to solid tumors (including brain cancer, prostate cancer, kidney cancer and pancreatic cancer, among others), non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, leukemia, effects on the nervous system, birth defects, fetal death and intrauterine growth retardation.” [7]
A study of the United States major streams and rivers revealed that 96% of fish contained detectable levels of at least one pesticide. [8]
When fertilizers runoff into water systems, the nutrients lead to algae buildup, depleting the dissolved oxygen content, which in turn reduces the amount of fish a system can sustain. [9]
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1 National Wildlife Federation. Available online at
2 Ibid.
3 Templeton, S.R., Zilberman, D., Yoo, S.J. (1998). “An Economic Perspective on Outdoor Residential Pesticide Use”, Environmental Science and Technology 32, 421A.
4 Pimentel, D. (2004). Quoted in Steinberg’s (2006) American Green: The Obsessive Quest for the Perfect Lawn.
5 Wargo, J. (1996). Our Children’s Toxic Legacy: How Science and Law Fail to Protect Us from Pesticides. New Haven, Connecticut: Yale University Press.
6 Nishioka, M.G. et al. (2001). Distribution of 2,4-D in Air and on Surfaces Inside Residences after Lawn Applications: Comparing Exposure Estimates from Various Media for Young Children”, Environmental Health Perspectives, 109.
7 Ontario College of Family Physicians. (2004). Pesticides Literature Review. Available online at
8 Gilliom, R. (U.S. Geological Survey). (1999). (1999). Pesticides in the Nation’s Water Resources. Water Environment Federation Briefing Series Presentation.
9 Bormann, F.H., Balmori, D., Geballe, G.T. (2001). Redesigning the American Lawn: A Search for Environmental Harmony. (2nd ed.). Connecticut: Yale University Press.
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Fertilizers can also contaminate groundwater, increasing the levels of nitrate in drinking water to unhealthy levels. “High levels of nitrate in drinking water can cause nervous system impairments, birth defects, cancer, and "blue baby syndrome," in which the oxygen content in an infant's blood falls to dangerous levels.” [10]
II. Water
“A standard 19L/minute lawn sprinkler uses more water in an hour than a combination of 10 toilet flushes, two dishwasher loads, two 5-minute showers and a full load of clothes.” [11]
The energy used to transport water to lawns can be even higher than the energy used to mow lawns. [12]
In the US, lawn-watering accounts for approximately 30% of residential water consumption along the east coast and up to 60% of consumption along the west coast. [13]
III. Land and Conservation
Approximately 25 to 40 million acres of land have been converted to lawn in the US alone. [14]
Each year, over 382,850 acres of land are converted to lawns in North America. [15]
Approximately 80% of US households have a lawn. [16]
Turf grass covers over 27.5 million acres in the US, of which 21 million is private lawns. [17]
Lawns generally consist of 1 to 3 species of grass, whereas a single garden can contain over 1000 species of plants. [18]
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10 Weyer, P. (2001) Nitrate in Drinking Water and Human Health. Avilable Online at and Bowman, D.C., Cherney, C.T., Rufth, T.W.Jr. (2002). “Fate and Transport of Nitrogen Applied to Six Warm-Season Turfgrasses”, Crop Science, 42:833.
11 Environment Canada. (2006). Freshwater Website: Quick Facts. Available online at
12 City of Irvine, Community Development Department. (1991). Sustainable Landscaping Guideline Manual, 1991 Draft.
13 National Wildlife Federation. “Cut Your Lawn-In Half.” Available online at
14 Robbins, P., Birkenholtz, T. (2003).“Turfgrass Revolution: Measuring the Expansion of the American Lawn”, Land Use Policy 20:182.
15 Ibid.
16 Borman, F.H., Bamori, D., & Geballe, G.T. (2001). Redesigning the American lawn: A search for environmental harmony. (2nd ed.). Connecticut: Yale University Press.
17 Ibid.
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Lawns not only contribute to loss of habitat, but the pesticides used strictly limit the species that can grow on the applied space and surrounding areas where the pesticides spread. [19]
The conversion of native grasslands to lawns has been a major reason why grassland birds are among the most threatened types of birds in North America. [20]
IV. Money, Time and Safety
North Americans spend a combined 40 billion dollars annually on their lawns-more than the entire continent gave in foreign aid in 2005.2021 [21]
The average homeowner spends approximately $220 annually on their lawn. [22]
The average homeowner spends more per acre on their lawn than it costs per acre to grow corn, rice, or sugarcane. [23]
Over 5 billion dollars is spent annually on fossil fuel-derived fertilizers for North American lawns. [24]
The average homeowner works over 150 hours annually on their lawn. [25]
Each year, approximately 75,000 Americans are seriously injured in lawn mower accidents and 10,000 of those accidents involve children. [26]
More than 30% these injuries result in an amputation of some sort, meaning more than 22,000 limbs and digits are lost to lawn care each year solely considering mowing accidents. [27]
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18 Smith, R.M., Thompson, K., Hodgson, J.G., Warren, P.H., Gaston, K.J. (2006). “Urban Domestic Gardens (IX): Composition and Richness of the Vascular Plant Flora, and Implications for Native Biodiversity.” Biological Conservation 129, 312-322.
19 Sauer, J.R., J.E. Hines, I. Thomas, J. Fallon, and G. Gough. (2000). “The North American breeding bird survey, results and analysis 1966 – 1999. Version 98.1, USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MD.” Available online at
20 Morris, K. (2005), as cited in Steinberg, T’s (2006) American Green: The Obsessive Quest for the Perfect Lawn.
21 Shah, A. (2006). The US and Foreign Aid Assistance.
22 National Gardening Association. (2000). National Gardening Survey. National Gardening Association, Burlington (VM).
23 Ibid.
24 Bormann, F.H., Balmori, D., Geballe, G.T. (2001). (1993). Redesigning the American Lawn: A search for environmental harmony (First Edition) Connecticut: Yale University Press.
25 Wood, D. (2006). “Green Green Grass”, En Route, June, 2006.
26 University of Michigan Health System, “U-M experts warn about the dangers of lawn mowers, especially with kids” (June 2, 2003). Available online at
27 Costilla, V., Bishal, D.M. (2006) “Lawnmower Injuries in the United States: 1996 to 2004”, Annals of Emergency Medicine, 47(6).
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According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics from 2004, you are more likely to be fatally injured on the job mowing lawns than as a police officer. [28]
V. Consumption, Emissions and Pollution [See Table 1]
Each year, over 800 million gallons of gasoline are consumed by lawn mowers in the United States, which can produce the equivalent of 10 billion kWh. [29]
Lawnmowers are responsible for approximately 5% of the US’s air pollution, and an even higher percent of the air pollution in metropolitan areas. [30]
“A conventional lawn mower pollutes as much in an hour as 40 late model cars (or as much air pollution as driving a car for 100 miles).” [31]
Over 17 million gallons of fuel, mostly gasoline, are spilled in North America every summer while lawn equipment is being refueled, which can lead to contamination of groundwater. [32] (This is more than all the oil spilled by the Exxon Valdez, in the Gulf of Alaska.)
Gas lawn mowers emit 10 to 12 times more hydrocarbons than a typical automobile per hour of operation. Weed-eaters emit 21 times more and leaf blowers emit 34 times more. [33]
“One hour of lawn mowing will produce approximately 2 kg of carbon dioxide, 1.8 kg of carbon monoxide, 178 g of VOCs, 6 g particulate matter and 1.8 g of nitrogen oxides.” [34]
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28 U.S. Department of Labor. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (Sept. 9, 2004). “Fatal Occupational Injuries.” Available online at
29 US Environmental Protection Agency. “Lawn and Garden(Small Engine) Equipment.” Available online at and People-Powered Machines. “Gas Mower Facts.” Available online at
30 Ibid.
31 Ibid.
32 U.S. EPA. (2003). A Source Book on Natural Landscaping for Public Officials. Available online at
33 National Wildlife Federation. Available online at
34 City of Louisville, Kentucky. (2006). Lawn Care for Cleaner Air Program. Available online at
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“Leaf blowers (voted as 'one of the worst inventions ever' in 2002) emit roughly 26 times the carbon monoxide and 49 times the particulate matter per hour than a new light-duty vehicle.” [35]
Seven gallons of gasoline must be used just to manufacture enough fertilizer to cover one average-sized family yard. [36]
The breakdown of nitrogen fertilizers releases nitrous oxide -a greenhouse gas and contributor to acid rain, the ozone hole, and smog. [37]
Yard waste accounts for approximately 18% of municipal waste. [38]
"The World Health Organization and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) both recommend that people limit their total exposure to noises as loud as a lawn mower to 45 minutes per day for the quieter gas mowers, 15 minutes for the average mowers, and five minutes for the loudest ones." [39]
VI. "American Green"
In the US, April is National Lawn Care Month-“It’s the perfect time to honor the environment both through Earth Day and National Lawn Care Month.”-Representative from Professional Lawn Care Association of America.
Amount of turf - 25 to 40 million acres- size of Kentucky to Florida, twice the acreage of planted cotton in the US.
Between 1994 and 2004 estimated average of 75,884 Americans/year were injured with lawn mowers, roughly the amount injured by firearms.
Using a gas-powered leaf blower for a half hour emits as many hydrocarbons as driving a car 7700 miles at 30mph.
In the process of refueling their lawn equipment, Americans spill about 17 million gallons of gasoline every summer~ 50% more than marred the Alaskan coast during the notorious Exxon Valdez disaster.
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35 Glassman, S., Vanitzian, D. (2002). “Fed Up With Noisy Leaf Blowers”, Los Angeles Times, Nov. 17, 2002 and California Environmental Protection Agency. (2000). Report -Exhaust Emissions: Report to the California Legislature, 40, 50.
36 Perry, L. (2006). Fuel-Efficient Lawns and Landscapes. Available online at
37 Environment Canada. (2006). Nitrogen Oxides -NOx. Available online at
38 Perry, L. (2006). Fuel-Efficient Lawns and Landscapes. Available online at
39 The Noise Pollution Clearing House. (2004). The Quiet Zone, Summer, 2004.
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In Tampa, FL, a single golf course uses 178,800 gallons of water per day ~ more than the daily water needs for over 2200 Americans.
Lawns are founded on two resources the US is running short on-oil and water. Keeping a lawn green takes an average of 1-2 inches/week, easily over 10,000 gallons each summer for a typical 1000ft2 lawn. Natural gas is used to produce fertilizer, petroleum powers our mowers, oil is used in leaf blowers, weed whackers, and edgers, not to mention the gas used in landscape crews pick ups.
“You plant Arnold Schwarzenegger and five years from now you have Danny DeVito. Turfgrass is not native to North America and this fact combined with the continent’s highly diverse climatic conditions, makes the perfect lawn an elusive goal.”
2,4-D most extensively used herbicide in the history of the world.
A man weighing 180 pounds burns nearly 500 calories/hr pushing a nonmotorized reel mower.
Noise pollution-freeway traffic at a distance of 50ft = 68-76 decibels leaf blowers = 98-106 decibels. Every increase in 10 decibels equals a doubling in loudness, and anything over 85 decibels is considered harmful to hearing.
Leaf blowers-26 times the amount of CO/hr as new vehicle and 49 times more particulate matter-“among dirtiest engines on the face of the earth”-California Air Resources Board A morning mowing ban was part of Texas SIP for Houston area, but was revised and removed before implementation. In LA, leaf blowers have been banned for over a decade and continue to be illegal although cops generally turn their head.
The Southwest, once highly recommended to the allergic, Bermuda-grass lawns have been steadily increasing pollen counts. According to Dr. Slavin, a St. Louis allergist, “Now when a patient says that maybe he should move to Tucson, I pull out my physician’s directory and show them the 28 allergists in Tucson—all, presumably making a good living.”
Change in Tide Could Be on the Horizon
Severe droughts and diminishing water supplies have caused several localities to put bans on lawn watering, planting, etc. In Las Vegas, new homes are limited to 50% turf in their front yards, and the Southern Nevada Water Authority now offers rebates to homeowners who rip their lawns. In Aurora, Colorado, sprinklers were banned in 2002, along with the planting of any new lawns the following year.
Several cities across the Midwest have recently restricted the fertilizer and pesticide use on lawns
VII. TruGreen ChemLawn - The true horror story
“TruGreen ChemLawn is the largest lawn care provider in the United States serving more than 3.4 million households and annually generating more than $1.3 billion in income. Think of it! Just ONE company is making $1.3 Billion a year "caring" for "lawns"...
TruGreen ChemLawn contributes to the yearly application of more than 70 million pounds of pesticides on some of America’s 30 million acres of lawns. The amount of pesticides applied is significant; the rate of pesticides used on lawns is on average ten times more per acre than what is used on agricultural land.
TruGreen ChemLawn’s standard customer receipt lists 32 pesticides available for use through its residential lawn care program. An analysis of these pesticides by Toxics Action Center based on information from the pesticide manufacturer’s Material Safety
Data Sheets reveal:
17 of 32 (53%) of TruGreen ChemLawn’s pesticide products include ingredients that are possible carcinogens, as defined by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
All 32 of TruGreen ChemLawn’s pesticide products include ingredients that pose threats to the environment including water supplies, aquatic organisms, and non-targeted insects.
9 of 32 (28%) of TruGreen ChemLawn’s pesticide products include ingredients that are known or suspected reproductive toxins (7/32 known, 22%).
11 of 32 (34%) of TruGreen ChemLawn’s pesticide products include ingredients that are known or suspected endocrine disruptors (4/32 known, 12.5%).
13 of 32 (41%) of TruGreen ChemLawn’s pesticide products include ingredients that are banned or restricted in other countries.
Despite these dangers, TruGreen ChemLawn continues to grow and recruit new residential and commercial customers.” [40]
VIII. Suggestions : [41]
I. To the very least, reduce lawn size : Leave as much land as possible in its natural state. Or, much better, transform all that wasted land into a productive Organic & Sustainable food-producing Garden!
II. Choose native and drought tolerant species : Native species require little if any watering, fertilizer, and maintenance since they are adapted to the climate and soil. [42]
Planting native species protects natural biodiversity and ecosystems while also attracting wildlife. [43]
III. Watering : Water your lawn in the evening or early morning to minimize evaporation. Water slowly and at least one inch at each watering. Collect rainwater for landscaping needs. Water on sloped areas with care
IV. Mowing : Leave clippings on the lawn to provide nutrients equivalent to one application of fertilizer.
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40 Refuse to Use ChemLawn. (2005). “Be Truly Green.”
41 Massachusetts Department of Food and Agriculture. “Water Use and Conservation Facts.” Available online
42 Go for Green. (2006). Fact Sheet #6: Gardening with Native Plants. Available online at
43 Ibid.
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“Clippings do not cause thatch. Mulching mowers are also available which help the clippings hide in the grass. If you mow the lawn before it gets too tall, the clippings left on the lawn will quickly disappear from view. Of course this technique also saves hauling yard waste to the landfill -some states have banned yard waste from landfills.” [44]
Use Alternative Mowers : “Push mowers (reel mowers) used to be heavy, clunky contraptions which required great effort in cutting the lawn. A new generation of reel mowers has been designed, however, which operate much more effectively with a fraction of the effort. The added benefits include a good light exercise and pollution-free lawn care.”
The Bully Push Mower : “This 15" Easy Push Mower has a five-blade reel for a perfect cut, hardened steel blades, ball bearing wheels, and easy spin gearing. At 18 lbs., it's much lighter weight than other reel mowers on the market.” [45] Price? $99.95
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44 Earth Easy. (2007). “Natural Lawn Care.” Available online at
http://www.eartheasy.com/grow_lawn_care.htm
45 Ibid.
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But more than anything else, the self-evident conclusion to all this should be quite self-evident: Get rid of that lawn, and replace it by Edible Landscaping and a food-producing Organic and Sustainable Garden!
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Table 1 - Fuel Consumption from Lawn and Garden Equipment, 2005 Equipment Classification Gasoline Diesel Total fuel consumption (in million gallons)
Mowing Equipment
Front mowers Commercial 19.24 90.77 110.01
Lawn & garden tractors Commercial 214.86 18.74 233.59
Lawn & garden tractors Residential 523.91 0 523.91
Lawn mowers Commercial 144.52 0 144.52
Lawn mowers Residential 194.27 0 194.27
Rear engine riding mowers Commercial 15.74 0 15.74
Rear engine riding mowers Residential 38.69 0 38.69
Total 1,151.22 109.5 1,260.72
Commercial turf equipment
Commercial 686.16 14.56 700.73
Rotary tillers over 6 HP Commercial 80.73 0 80.73
Rotary tillers under 6 HP Residential 18 0 18
Total 784.89 14.56 799.46
Wood Cutting Equipment
Chain saws over 6 HP Commercial 80.52 0 80.52
Chain saws under 6 HP Residential 19.5 0 19.5
Chippers/stump grinders Commercial 37.44 123.52 160.96
Shredders over 6 HP Commercial 8.55 0 8.55
Total 146.02 123.52 269.54
Blowers and Vacuums
Leafblowers/vacuums Commercial 200.68 0.01 200.69
Leafblowers/vacuums Residential 19.49 0 19.49
Snowblowers Commercial 30.08 1.61 31.69
Snowblowers Residential 15.92 0 15.92
Total 266.17 1.62 267.79
Trimming Equipment
Trimmers/edgers/brush cutter Commercial 64.1 0 64.1
Trimmers/edgers/brush cutter Residential 28.11 0 28.11
Other lawn & garden equipmentb Commercial 22.39 0.34 22.73
Other lawn & garden equipmentb Residential 18.76 0 18.76
Total 133.36 0.34 133.71
Total All Equipment 2,481.66 249.56 2,731.22
Source:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, NONROAD2005 Model, www.epa.gov/otaq/nonrdmdl.htm .
a Includes equipment such as aerators, dethatchers, sod cutters, hydro-seeders, turf utility vehicles, golf course greens mowers, and sand trap groomers.
b Includes equipment not otherwise classified such as augers, sickle-bar mowers, and wood splitters. Available online at http://www-cta.ornl.gov/data/tedb26/Spreadsheets/Table2_10.xls
* Note: There are slight variations in EPA estimants and National Wildlife Federation estimants of annual fuel consumption most likely due to differences in data year collection and classification of lawn care equipment.
Copyright OSL 2008. All rights reserved. Standard license.
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