Homes, golf courses and parks have more acres of turf grass than U.S. farmers devote to corn, wheat and fruit trees combined"..........."NASA in collaboration with researchers in the Mountain West estimate that lawns cover a total of 163,812 square kilometers, or more than 63,000 square miles— about 2.5% of the land mass of the USA(the size of Texas)".............."A study of residential lawns at National Science Foundation (NSF) Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) sites bordering Phoenix, Baltimore, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Miami, Boston and Los Angeles found that lawns are contributing to a continental-scale ecological homogenization(biological desert)"............"Our lawns are a never ending swath of non-native turf-grass monoculture that goes against nature’s penchant for an admix of many different trees, shrubs, flowers and ground covers"............"Land in its natural state -- with native trees, shrubs, vegetative ground cover and a layer of leaf litter functions like a sponge for rainwater"............"Instead of running off into storm sewers, rainwater permeates the soil and provides for re-charging of the underground water reservoirs known as aquifers"............."Native plants provide a beautiful, hardy, drought resistant, low maintenance and bird, animal and (beneficial insect) landscape that enhances the environment".................."Once established, your native landscape will save you money by eliminating or significantly reducing needs for fertilizers, pesticides, water and lawn maintenance equipment".............."By providing diverse habitats and food sources, native plants attract a variety of birds, butterflies, and other wildlife (15 times more wildlife than non-natives) and provide the foundation for the backyard web of life, from microorganisms to hawks"..............."Native plants foliage, nectar, pollen, fruits and seeds are familiar and preferred by our native wildlife".............."Closely mowed lawns are of little use to the creatures we share our neighborhoods with".............."Conversely, native plants are a part of our natural heritage, have been here since pre-colonial times, have been associated with local wildlife through the ages, and are adapted to each other"................."Natural(native) landscaping is an opportunity for you to reestablish diverse native ecosystems, thereby inviting the birds and butterflies back home".............In my 19 years of livng in my Southern California home, i am proud to say that I have converted half of my original lawn area to a native plant garden, getting accreditation from the National Wildlife Federation as a wildlife sanctuary that provides shelter, food and water for the wild creatures that call this part of the world home.............I encourage you to do the same!

https://phys.org/news/2018-07-decline-biodiversity-suburban-ecosystems.html

Research shows decline in biodiversity of suburban ecosystems

July 12, 2018 by Cheryl Dybas, National Science Foundation

Worried about your lawn drying up in the summer heat? A bigger threat may lie next door, in your neighbor's—and his or her neighbor's—lawns. They all look alike, and that may not be a good thing.

Are  lawns biological deserts?

Ecological homogenization of suburban America

A study of residential lawns at National Science Foundation (NSF) Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) sites bordering Phoenix, Baltimore, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Miami, Boston and Los Angeles found that lawn maintenance is contributing to a continental-scale ecological homogenization.

A NATIVE PLANT GARDEN ALTERNATIVE TO THE NON-NATIVE LAWN

Plant communities in residential lawns across the LTER sites had more in common with each other than they did with their unmanaged counterparts.

"The cities were selected to represent different climates and vegetation types, making the similarities in residential lawns even more striking," says Peter Groffman of the City University of New York and the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, and senior scientist on the study. The results were recently published in the journal Landscape and Urban Planning.

Turfgrass rules the roost—but isn't the whole story

Turfgrasses make up the majority of residential lawn plants. Although particular turfgrass species differed among research sites, all shared similar community compositions.

A NATIVE PERNNIAL GARDEN ALTERNATIVE TO GRASS LAWN

The study also found that sites in different parts of the country shared the same weeds, "indicating that factors other than human planting practices are contributing to the narrowing of lawn plant biodiversity," Groffman says.

Weeds are sometimes present in turfgrass seed containers; lawn maintenance and disturbed soils create an environment in which the weeds are successful. "Although many of these plants are non-native," says Doug Levey, an NSF LTER program director, "some have flowers that support native pollinators. Dandelions and clover are examples."

Biodiversity in higher-income vs. lower-income yards

Demographic components of the residential areas were incorporated into the study. Researchers found that higher-income households had lawns with significantly less plant biodiversity than those of lower-income homes.

High-income households can afford to spend more on lawn care services that remove unwanted plants, ultimately lowering biodiversity, the scientists say.

But the same high-income households often kept small gardens with high plant diversity. The flora there, however, were sometimes non-native.

"The big question is how variations in biodiversity might influence lawns' water and nutrient use, and their aesthetics," says Groffman.

WITHOUT KNOWING ANYTHING ABOUT BIODIVERSITY,
ONE INSTINCTIVELY RECOGNIZES THAT THIS BEAUTIFUL
TANGLE OF NATIVE PLANTS IS MORE INVITING TO ALL
FORMS OF BIRD, ANIMAL AND INSECT LIFE COMPARED
TO THE TWO LAWN PICTURES DIRECTLY ABOVE AND
BELOW(THIS PICTURE)

New research is addressing the prospects for American lawns. The scientists are evaluating whether xeriscaping (landscapes that require little water), improving wildlife habitat, and capturing runoff will lead to changes.

If you're a homeowner with a yard, look to the skies for rain, but glance at your lawn, and your neighbors' lawns, for their plant biodiversity. The result may augur well—or not—for the future of one of America's most common ecosystems.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

https://www.audubon.org/news/why-native-plants-are-better-birds-and-people

April 4, 2016

Why Native Plants Are Better for Birds and People

Bird-friendly landscaping provides food, saves water, and fights climate change.

Your garden is your outdoor sanctuary. With some
 careful plant choices, it can be a haven for native
 birds as well. Landscaped with native species,
your yard, patio, or balcony becomes a vital
recharge station for birds passing through and
 a sanctuary for nesting and overwintering birds.

Each patch of restored native habitat is just that—a
 patch in the frayed fabric of the ecosystem in 
which it lies. By landscaping with native plants,
 we can turn a patchwork of green spaces into a 
quilt of restored habitat.

Better for Birds

More native plants mean more choices of food
and shelter for native birds and other wildlife.

To survive, native birds need native plants and the
 insects that have co-evolved with them. Most
 landscaping plants available in nurseries are
 exotic species from other countries. Many are
 prized for qualities that make them poor food
sources for native birds—like having leaves that
are unpalatable to native insects and caterpillars.
 With 96 percent of all terrestrial bird species in
 North America feeding insects to their young,
planting insect-proof exotic plants is like serving
up plastic food. No insects? No birds.

For example, research by entomologist Doug
Tallamy has shown that native oaks support more
 than 550 different species of butterflies and moths
alone. The non-native ginkgo tree supports just 5.
 Caterpillars are the go-to food source for migrant
and resident birds alike. In the 16 days between
 hatching and fledging, a clutch of Carolina
Chickadee chicks can down more than 9,000 of them.

Tallamy's work points to native landscaping as a key
tool in increasing bird diversity and abundance. In
 a study of suburban properties in southeast
Pennsylvania, for example, eight times more
 Wood Thrushes, Eastern Towhees, Veeries, and
 Scarlet Tanagers (all species of conservation
 concern) were found in yards with native plantings
 as compared with yards landscaped with typical
 alien ornamentals.

What’s more, the habitat provided by native plants
can help birds adapt and survive amid a changing
climate. More than half of North American bird
species are threatened by climate change, and
native plants can help increase their resilience by
giving them food and places to rest and nest.

Better for People

When you landscape with native species, you can
 spend more time with the birds and less time
with the mower. How does that boost human
 health? During the growing season, some 56
million Americans mow 40 million acres of grass
 each week—an area eight times the size of New
Jersey! Mowers and weed-whackers burn
 gasoline to the tune of 800 million gallons
per year, contributing to the greenhouse gases
that drive global warming.

If you’ve ever filled a lawn mower or weed
 whacker with gas, you know that spills happen.
 The EPA estimates that Americans spill more
than 17 million gallons of fuel each year while
refueling lawn equipment, polluting the air
and groundwater. Older, less efficient two-cycle
 engines release significant amounts of their oil
 and gas unburned. The less lawn you mow, the
less air and water pollution you create.

 Less lawn also means less noise pollution. 
According to the Noise Pollution Clearinghouse, a
 typical gas-powered push mower emits 85 to 90 
decibels for the operator (90-95 for riding l
awnmowers). That doesn’t just scare away the birds—
it can cause hearing loss over time.

By planting native species, you will also: 

Save water

According to the Environmental Protection Agency,
 30 to 60 percent of fresh water in American cities
is used for watering lawns. Native plants have
adapted to thrive in their regional landscape,
without added water or nutrients. With climate
change models predicting increased episodes of
extreme drought such as California is
 experiencing, it’s a good time to shift to
 water-wise yards and native plants.

Control flooding

Cultivating vertical structure in your yard by
planting many different species of herbaceous
flowering plants, shrubs, and trees creates layers
 of vegetation that deflect pounding rains,
increasing the chance for water to be absorbed
by your soil before running off into storm drains
and streams.

Use fewer chemicals

Less lawn mowing, fertilizing, and pesticide
 application means cleaner air and water.

Homeowners apply nearly 80 million pounds of
pesticides to lawns in the United States each year.
 What’s more, they use up to 10 times more pesticides
 per acre on their lawns than farmers use on crops.
 During storms, lawn chemicals can be carried by
 runoff and wind, contaminating streams and
wetlands many miles away.

Native plants are often hardier than non-native
 ornamentals and thrive without pesticides or
fertilizers. Moreover, as you work to create a
bird-friendly sanctuary in your yard, insects
that may have seemed like pests before become
 allies. Since caterpillars are premium bird food,
the holes they make in your oak’s leaves are
badges of success and the caterpillars themselves
 cause for celebration.

Reduce maintenance

Less lawn means less time mowing,
weed-whacking, and edging. Landscaping with
native plants isn’t maintenance free—invasive
 weed species are an ongoing issue in any
 garden. But with careful landscape planning
 and plant selection, you can create a garden
 space that minimizes the ongoing input of
time and money. That’s a mighty nice change
 from constant lawn care. And when the
mower’s tucked away, you can hear bird
song in the silence that reigns.

Create beauty

What does a beautiful outdoor space look
like? What does it mean to have a
“well-kept” yard? For decades, our
 standard of green beauty and orderliness
 has centered on a carpet-like lawn and
manicured foundation plantings, an
aesthetic that largely excludes birds
 and other wildlife, and has a hefty carbon
 footprint. By putting in native plants,
you can create a colorful, visually
appealing landscape that helps give
birds a fighting chance in a changing
world.

So get digging for birds—then sit back, 
relax, and enjoy watching them as 
they flock to your yard, deck, or
 balcony. Here's how to get started
 with your bird-friendly yard! Or,
 start searching now for native
 plants for birds in your area with
 Audubon's native plant databasE