Grass Paint

Posted by Jamie McIntosh Mar 23, 2009

Yard art has sunk to a new low. No longer content to distract passers-by from an unkempt lawn with plastic flamingoes and dollar store garden gnomes, homeowners are indulging in the ultimate in artifice: grass paint. This is exactly what it sounds like. Grass paint is a product one sprays across the entire yard, like spray paint, to give the appearance of something growing. Say what?! This is no St. Patrick’s Day prank. People are so desperate for the look of a well-groomed lawn that they are willing to apply permanent green dye to the earth.

This is at once funny and disturbing. It isn’t difficult to imagine a homeowner, faced with water restrictions or severe growing conditions, trying to maintain the façade expected in many suburbs. However, there are many fine alternatives when a lawn refuses to grow. Xeriscaping in dry areas, shade gardens in forested areas, and ground covers are just a few possibilities. Furthermore, these alternative plantings provide a habitat for wildlife, unlike an artificially colored surface. So, consider replacing your dead lawn with native plantings if possible, because even plastic yard art deserves a natural foil.