Reduce Your Lawn Day Is May 20th
Reduce Your Lawn Day is a national call to action to inspire transformations that turn underutilized yard space into thriving ecosystems with simple planting projects. Because small changes, multiplied across thousands of yards, create a real impact.
Join us! Take the pledge and be part of a movement where collective action leads to lasting change.
Sign The Pledge & Join The Movement
Sign the pledge through May 26th and you'll be entered to win our Grand Prize, valued at over $1000!
Prizes include a raised garden bed, pollinator houses, and a watering can from our friends at Gardener's Supply, a $250 gift certificate from American Meadows, a $250 gift certificate to High Country Gardens, and more!
Learn More About Reduce Your Lawn Day
Learn more about the benefits of less lawn and get ideas for easy planting projects!
4 Reasons To Reduce Your Lawn
10 Easy Planting Projects
4 Ways To Support The Movement
5 Not-So-Fun Lawn Facts
Reduce Your Lawn Photo Gallery
Partners In Reduce Your Lawn Day
4 Reasons To Reduce Your Lawn
Cut Back Your Turf & Increase Your Flower Power
1. Create Healthy Habitat
As new developments spread across the country, lawns continue to replace wild spaces and healthy ecosystems. Traditional turfgrass is a dead zone for wildlife. Reducing your lawn can help rebuild habitat, so you can enjoy watching birds, butterflies, fireflies and more, right in your own yard.
2. Reduce Pollution
The gasoline-powered mowers and blowers used to maintain traditional turf lawns cause damaging air pollution from emissions, ground pollution from spilled gas, and noise pollution from noisy motors. Less mowing means cleaner air, a healthier environment, and a more peaceful yard.
3. Remove Harmful Chemicals
The fertilizers and pesticides used in maintaining traditional turf lawns cause harm to waterways and soil health. They are not just harmful to pollinators and wildlife, but they're harmful to people and pets too. Removing chemicals from our lawns will help protect pollinators, people, and our planet alike.
4. Feel Better When You Dig In
Gardening is good for the soul and good for your health! Studies show that spending time around plants reduces stress hormones and helps us feel happier and calmer. Working in the dirt, breathing fresh air, and moving your body will contribute to your well-being.
10 Easy Planting Projects To Reduce Your Lawn
Reducing a turfgrass lawn is one of the easiest ways to make a yard better for pollinators, people, and the planet. Need inspiration for an easy weekend project? Check out our top 10 ideas for places to tear up turf!
- Remove the grass along your driveway and plant an easy-to-grow wildflower border
- Plant easy to grow perennials to surround your mailbox to brighten the neighborhood
- Flip the strip! Remove the lawn between your sidewalk and the street and plant a low-growing mini-meadow
- Carve out a flower bed for native flowers to create a pollinator pit stop in your yard
- Easily expand your existing flower beds by pushing out their boundaries with groundcovers
- Remove tough-to-trim grass along walkways and plant creeping groundcovers for a pretty pathway
- Build a raised bed near your house and plant an easy-to-access cut flower garden
- Remove the grass along your fence to create a beautiful blooming border with wildflowers
- Designate a corner of your yard “for the birds” and plant a pre-planned garden with native plants
- Flank your front walkway with flower beds to boost your curb appeal
Ready To Dig In? See Our Guide: How To Remove Your Lawn
4 Ways To Support Reduce Your Lawn Day
- Share your photos! On Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or X, tag photos of your planting project with the hashtags #ReduceYourLawn or #ReduceYourLawnDay. Or Click here to submit photos.
- Join the Reduce Your Lawn Day Facebook Group
- Tell your community about Reduce Your Lawn Day! Share a link to this page with your local gardening group, neighborhood group, government representatives, or Master Gardener & Extension programs.
- Download and print the Reduce Your Lawn Day Yard Sign or Poster to engage the community in your Better Yard initiative!
5 Not-So-Fun Lawn Facts
- The traditional turf lawns we know today were popularized in the Victorian era when the first lawnmower was introduced. It's about time for a fresh take on lawns!
- Turfgrass is the single largest irrigated crop in our country. What a waste of water!
- Every year in the US, we use 800 million gallons of gasoline in lawn equipment. We're spending over 2.4 billion dollars in gas money - ouch!
- Pollution from gas-powered lawnmowers makes up to 5% of total air pollution in the US. (Cough, cough...)
- Today there are over 40 million acres of lawn in the US. That makes lawns the most-widely-grown crop in the country!
We have the ability to make a real difference by working together to improve our planet. You can put your yard in the fight for a better world!
Our Partners In Reduce Your Lawn Day
Together We Can Make A Difference
Reduce Your Lawn Day is brought to you by American Meadows, High Country Gardens, and Groundcover Revolution author Kathy Jentz.
Thank you to our partner organizations for supporting and celebrating Reduce Your Lawn Day. We know we can do the most good when we are all working together.
Want to see your organization here too? Join us, take the pledge, and be part of a movement where collective action leads to lasting change! Contact Us for information and to join the growing Reduce Your Lawn Day movement.
Helpful Resources
Learn how to grow wildflower meadow or natural garden, and shop for seeds, plants, and bulbs.
Choosing the right plants for your growing conditions is key. Learn more in this great guide to groundcovers.
Learn about xeriscaping and sustainable lawn alternatives, and shop for waterwise plants.