Photo Credit: © Can Stock Photo / AntoniaLorenzo
With shrinking maintenance budgets on the horizon, municipalities and other public agencies have been researching options to reduce costs. One frequently considered initiative is the addition of turf to reduce the amount of mowing by maintenance crews. While turf is necessary in some public areas, there is a large up-front cost for equipment and continuous costs for labor, maintenance, fertilizer, pest management, and fuel. Alternatively, well-implemented and managed meadows and natural landscapes require less costly maintenance that can lead to substantial cost savings while offering other sustainable benefits to communities.
Benefits Of Meadow Establishment
In addition to the financial savings, meadows offer a host of ecological benefits. When an ecosystem is unbalanced, humans must develop alternative, engineered systems that are often costlier and less-efficient than naturally supported infrastructure. Though more difficult to accurately quantify, potential benefits include the following:
• Stormwater control
Increased wildlife and pollinator habitat Reduced air pollution.