The grass may be greener at UWM

A recent proposal has the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee contemplating a procedural change in lawn care. Under the proposal, brought forth by the Physical Environment Committee, university groundskeeping would take an all-natural approach to the care of grass on campus.

Ryan Sorenson, a member of the Physical Environment Committee, says the change will be beneficial to students.

I think if the lawns are well kept, students will have an increased experience. Not only will the grass look nicer but students will be able to enjoy it more, said Sorenson. It will be nice for students to study or just relax on the lawn.

The universitys Chief Sustainability Officer Kate Nelson, who also serves as a member of the Physical Environment Committee, agrees with Sorenson.

I know kids who if you give them a patch of green will just lay down in it, Nelson said. I want the grass to look nicer, but I also want it to be healthy. I want students to enjoy the lawn.

Unlike the current method of lawn care, which kills weeds through the application of chemical fertilizers and herbicides, all-natural lawn care aims to reduce weed growth by creating healthy soil. The process which includes aeration, over seeding and composting, allows the soil to become rich with bacteria, microbes and nutrients needed for thick, green grass.

Currently, the department of Finance and Administrative Affairs is evaluating the proposal. All-natural lawn care is three to four times more expensive than the current method of lawn care. Nelson says the extra expense is worth it.

While direct cost is greater, the indirect cost in terms of sustainably, is much less, Nelson said. All-natural lawn care is better for our waterways, our insect health and ultimately our health.

If university administration approves the proposal, the new lawn care protocol may begin this semester.

I would love to see it [all-natural lawn care] be enacted this spring, said Nelson.

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The grass may be greener at UWM