By Pat Dray
The Garden Spot
Pat Dray
It’s always interesting to see what new homeowners do to an existing property. I recently watched as some new owners of a home on a corner lot bring in heavy equipment to remove brambles which were at the side of the property, cut down at least 10 old-growth trees at the rear of the property, bring in fill, and then level the property – all in preparation for planting a lawn. Unfortunately, the end result will be increased noise, reduced biodiversity and increased maintenance, pollution and chemical use.
Trees and shrubs help reduce noise by absorbing, deflecting, refracting or masking sound waves. According to the US Department of Agriculture, a 100-foot tree barrier will reduce noise between five to eight decibels. A buffer closer to the noise source will reduce sound more than one further away, so the brambles on the street side of this property were creating an effective sound buffer as well as supporting birds and wildlife that would help mask unnatural noise. A backyard that once was a private, quiet, corner lot will sound like it’s on I-95 as cars go around the corner.
Trees also help to reduce our carbon footprint. According to the Arbor Day Foundation, the average mature tree sequesters about 48 pounds of carbon annually while the average automobile releases about 9,200 pounds of carbon annually. Not removing those 10 trees would have offset 5 percent of the carbon released by driving. The extensive tree removal not only increased noise pollution but increased their family carbon footprint.
The situation is not improved by thinking, “Well, I’ll burn the wood and use it for heat.” You can do that, but burning wood generates more carbon emissions per unit of energy generated than fossil fuels.
The other unrealized benefit of trees is that the shade they provide reduces your cooling bills in summer and the windbreak reduces heating costs in winter.
Removing existing habitat and replacing it with turf also reduces biodiversity. Lawns (turf) are monocultures which support very few insects and pollinators. What insects are there are probably killed by the herbicides and pesticides the new homeowner will probably use to support that new lawn. Earthworms are one of the most severely affected, so expect to need to aerate your lawn mechanically, since the earthworms are gone.
Watering that lawn for one hour three times a week will use about 12,240 gallons of water in a month. The use of a gas-powered lawn mower for one hour releases the carbon equivalent of a 100-mile car trip, while the noise from a leaf blower is approximately 112 decibels (a plane taking off is about 105 decibels). Hopefully the new homeowner will have a very deep well (or city water) and good ear protection while they increase their carbon footprint.
The question, of course, is what to do instead. Start by replanting with natives which will support biodiversity. Create habitats for pollinators by leaving some debris. Replace turf with native, dear-resistant ground covers such as amsonia, switchgrass or bee balm. Practice “No Mow May” so that the pollinators can leave their ground nests prior to mowing. Eliminate the use of broad-spectrum herbicides and pesticides and spot treat and hand weed.
To estimate your carbon footprint, go to the EPA website at epa.gov.
Pat Dray is a past president of the Garden Club of Orange and a master gardener.