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Sustainable Lawn Demonstrations Promote Climate-Friendly Practices

Agritech demo plots
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  • Cornell Cooperative Extension
Impact: Environmental Stewardship

Lawns cover millions of acres across the United States and represent one of the most intensively managed land uses in residential and urban environments. Traditional high-input lawn care relies heavily on fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions, nutrient runoff, and biodiversity loss. Homeowners, landscape professionals, and policymakers increasingly seek practical, research-based alternatives that balance aesthetics with environmental stewardship.

Cornell AgriTech established side-by-side demonstration plots comparing conventional lawn care, integrated pest management (IPM), and no-input management at multiple mowing heights. These plots allowed stakeholders to see real-world differences in turf quality, pest pressure, and ecological performance. Researchers hosted walking tours, delivered extension talks, and presented findings virtually to broaden access. Two educational videos documenting the demonstrations were shared online to extend outreach beyond in-person audiences.

Results

More than 100 stakeholders attended presentations and plot tours during 2023–2024. Two demonstration videos received 11,000 and 14,000 views on YouTube, expanding reach nationally. The demonstrations showed that taller mowing heights and IPM programs improved ecological services, including reduced chemical inputs and enhanced habitat value, while resulting in only slight reductions in turf uniformity and visual quality. Outreach efforts engaged lawn care professionals, homeowners, extension educators, and policymakers, increasing awareness of sustainable lawn management options.

Public Value Statement

This project equips homeowners, industry professionals, and decision-makers with practical strategies to reduce pesticide and fertilizer use, protect water quality, enhance biodiversity, and increase carbon storage in managed landscapes. By making environmental trade-offs visible and understandable, Cornell AgriTech supports informed, climate-smart lawn care decisions that can be adopted at scale across urban and suburban communities.

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