Lawn Control, Lawn Culture, and the Social Marketing of Sustainable Behaviors

Dorsey, Joseph W.

doi:10.1089/eco.2009.0041

Cited by 6 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…Researchers have noted a rise, beginning in the 1920s, in the popularity of expanses of lawns with a scattering of trees and perennials and characterized this preference as -remarkably persistent and stable‖ over time (Henderson et al 1998). Speculation on the reasons for the enduring popularity of lawns range from a perception that their presence contributes to feelings of good citizenship and neighborliness on the part of homeowners and the maintenance of property values to a sense of -controlling‖ nature and a mark of status dating back to European aristocracy maintaining a pristine sward of green (Jenkins, 1994;Shern, 1995;Henderson et al 1998;Steinberg, 2006;Dorsey, 2010;Mustafa et al 2010). Such social determinants are bolstered by civil reinforcement through municipal ordinances regarding lawn length, landscape composition, and -weed control,‖ as well as significant investment by lawn-care companies, garden centers and other businesses in promoting lawns as a social good (Jenkins, 1994;Lynch & Hofmann, 2007;Dorsey, 2010).…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Awareness of the costs of maintaining lawns and conventional landscaping have grown since the 1980s as local organizations and interested homeowners have pressured municipalities to accept sustainable landscaping alternatives (Dorsey, 2010;Mustafa et al 2010). Today, many popular magazines and journals promote alternatives to conventional lawns (see Best, 2002 andCorrea, 2010, for examples); however, the majority of the North American public seems surprisingly resistant to these options (Dorsey, 2010;Mustafa et al 2010). The key roadblock, according to Nohl (2001), is the question of aesthetics.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Anatomy of a failed sustainability initiative: government and community resistance to sustainable landscaping in a Canadian city

Booth

Skelton

2011

Sustainability: Science, Practice and Policy

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This article presents a case study of a "failed" sustainability initiative to establish sustainable landscaping demonstration sites in a northern, resource-dependent Canadian community. This failure is attributable to fears by municipal staff regarding public acceptance of landscaping alternatives and, in consequence, partial and ever-changing levels of support for the project. The outcomes suggest several lessons for achieving success in sustainability initiatives, including ensuring education for all parties, establishing and maintaining mutual commitments, and overt planning for potential negative public response.

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Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anatomy of a failed sustainability initiative: government and community resistance to sustainable landscaping in a Canadian city

Booth

Skelton

2011

Sustainability: Science, Practice and Policy

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Why mow?: A review of the resulting ecosystem services and disservices from mowing turfgrass

Patton

2024

Crop Science

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Turfgrasses are those grasses that tolerate frequent mowing. The act of mowing turfgrasses, primarily lawn mowing, has received much negative attention primarily due to its labor requirement and the resulting mower emissions. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the benefits and drawbacks of mowing grasses, specifically turfgrasses used on lawns, parks, golf courses, and sports fields, using an ecosystem services and disservices framework. Discussed is the challenge of creating a “one‐size‐fits‐all” approach to selecting the best mowing management practices and sociocultural tensions that exist related to lawn mowing. Discussion also includes the benefits and value gained from mowing turfgrass and strategies to mitigate ecosystem disservices that result from mowing.

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Balancing the Ecological Function of Residential Stormwater Ponds with Homeowner Landscaping Practices

Monaghan

Hansen

et al. 2016

Environmental Management

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Stormwater ponds are installed in urban developments to provide the ecosystem services of flood control and water treatment. In coastal areas, these ponds are connected to watersheds that can drain directly into protected estuaries, making their design, function, and maintenance critical to environmental protection. However, stormwater ponds in residential areas are increasingly managed as aesthetic amenities that add value to real estate rather than as engineered devices with special maintenance requirements. To help extend the life of neighborhood stormwater systems and improve ecosystem services, homeowners should follow best management practices for nutrient management and add shoreline plantings and non-invasive, beneficial aquatic plants to their ponds. This study used focus group and survey research to document the knowledge, behaviors, and attitudes of homeowners living near stormwater ponds in a master-planned community in Florida. The study was designed to use a social marketing research approach to promote Extension best practices. Findings indicate that many residents were aware of the functional components of stormwater systems and respondents' receptivity to best management practices was mediated by age, their attitudes about water quality and whether their home was adjacent to a pond. These findings can be used to target Extension audiences and improve adoption of stormwater pond best management practices for increased protection of water quality.

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Lawn Control, Lawn Culture, and the Social Marketing of Sustainable Behaviors

Cited by 6 publications

References 13 publications

Anatomy of a failed sustainability initiative: government and community resistance to sustainable landscaping in a Canadian city

Anatomy of a failed sustainability initiative: government and community resistance to sustainable landscaping in a Canadian city

Why mow?: A review of the resulting ecosystem services and disservices from mowing turfgrass

Balancing the Ecological Function of Residential Stormwater Ponds with Homeowner Landscaping Practices

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