Jessica Olson EBS GUEST COLUMNIST
Traditional lawns consist of turf, a non-native species of grass that demands a lot of water to thrive. Throughout the ebb and flow of drought and being more in tune with practicing water conservation, we have come to understand that there are more water-wise, fire-safe, ecosystem resilient and aesthetically pleasing ways to steward your landscape than traditional water-dependent designs.These new approaches take into account our sensitive water supply and alpine ecosystem, while still leaving you with an outdoor space that suits your needs.
Ready to trade in your mower? Through a program that prioritizes functional, eco-friendly, water-wise and fire-wise lawns, the Gallatin River Task Force is poised to help you with your very own landscape transformation. Using a streamlined process to introduce turf conversion to your own outdoor spaces, you can alleviate pressures on water resources, and set your landscape on the right path to resilience.
Converting your lawn through turf removal is a great first step, and the process is far less complicated and daunting than it may sound. A growing number of Montanans are choosing to convert their lawns from turf to a landscape that is better suited for our region, and in this article, we will explore what that is, and why it matters.
Big Sky is unique. We are lucky to live somewhere surrounded by natural beauty and endless recreational opportunities: world class fishing in the Gallatin, hundreds of miles of trails on surrounding public lands that bring great vistas and wildlife, skiing of all forms, moments of adventure equally matched by moments of solitude. Visitors travel thousands of miles to experience what is right out our back door. And while that statement is a figure of speech, our back yards do matter. We are a part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, a wilderness that remains one of the largest intact temperate ecosystems on earth. Our landscapes are a part of that and so are we. Being mindful about that is both a responsibility and a privilege.
Did you know that Big Sky has a greater risk of wildfire than 96% of communities in the country? Did you know that our water supply is almost entirely dependent on snowpack, and that last year saw some of the lowest snow levels on record? Did you know that invasive species can thrive in our climate conditions, making it increasingly difficult for wildlife to find food? Luckily, all of these alarming facts are easily affected through our landscaping practices and the choices we make to create condition-appropriate environments around our homes.
The Gallatin River Task Force and Alpenscapes are dedicated community partners, having collaborated on resources and services that can help you be fire-safe, water-wise and ecosystem-friendly all at once. By building our landscapes to work with our ecosystem—and not against it—we can create positive changes in real time for our community and the natural environment around it.
Studies have found that up to 80% of homes lost to wildfires could have been saved with a few simple changes in their landscapes, including keeping firewood at least 30 feet from any structures and regularly cleaning gutters. Another easy move like switching from traditional turf grass to a native species garden can cut water use by up to 53 gallons a square foot annually, and planting native plant varieties can increase pollinator diversity. All small actions that can make a big difference.
Many lawns here in Big Sky are composed of turf grass, a species that does little for our pollinators, often uses fertilizers that are bad for the river and doesn’t support strong soils. To help kick turf grass to the curb and bring more native, water-wise and fire safe practices to our community, the Gallatin River Task Force is offering a turf conversion program to aid in your landscaping journey.
Landowners interested in the conversion to native landscapes are often concerned about where to start. The assumption is that once turf grass has been established, it’s a lengthy and expensive process to remove it. The turf conversion program takes care of the details, from removing established grass to cultivating a healthy canvas for new soils and native plants to take root. One process is called sheet mulching, an environmentally friendly process through which an existing lawn is composted rather than removed, and disposed of, by incorporating layers of organic compost on top of existing grass, suppressing weeds and enriching soil to prepare for spring planting.
Every landscape and every owner has different needs, and individual styles. The first step is creating a new foundation for your choices of native grasses, colorful pollinators, low maintenance plants or budget-friendly flower beds. Committing to the conversion process allows us to help you take it from there to achieve your perfect, water-wise, fire-safe and ecosystem-friendly landscape. The Gallatin River Task Force and our partners at Alpenscapes invite you to be part of the solution to keep our water flowing strong, natural areas thriving and our community safe. We’ll prep your landscape, you do the planting. Together, we’ll make Big Sky better one landscape at a time. Learn more and apply here.
Jessica Olson is the Conservation Manager for the Gallatin River Task Force.
