Resources for Homeowners Associations to Advance Sustainable Practices — Lawn Conversion
A lawn conversion project in East Goshen Township by Natural Lands.
Definition
HOAs often own open spaces with large mowed lawn areas that could be converted to meadows to save money on mowing contracts and improve water quality and wildlife habitats. Although an aesthetic preferred by many, mowed turf is composed of non-native species that require a lot of water, fertilizer, and upkeep, and frequently have short roots which decrease infiltration benefits and even generate stormwater runoff. By incorporating native species into our landscaping, we can reduce the amount of turf grass and create an environment that is lower maintenance, uses fewer resources, and provides habitat for pollinators and other native wildlife.
Grants and Funding
Lawn Conversion Sub-Grant for Conservation Districts
The Chester County Conservation District has funding through the PA Conservation District (PACD) for lawn conversion projects on public and private property. Property owner must agree to retain the meadow condition for a minimum of 25 years. Learn more.
Community & Watershed Forestry Program
Part of C2P2, this program provides financial assistance to projects both on public and private property that install riparian forest buffers, lawn conversion into meadows or woodland, community tree plantings. Property owner must agree to retain the improvements for a minimum of 25 years. Learn more.
Wild Ones
Grants for native plant gardens and landscaping projects throughout the United States. Learn more.
Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts
PACD was awarded a $100,000 Community Conservation Partnerships Program Grant from the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) to offer Lawn Conversion training and mini-grants to Pennsylvania's conservation districts. The lawn conversion program will help the Commonwealth achieve a goal of planting 5,000 acres of upland forest and 5,000 acres of meadow by 2025. Learn more.
Willistown Conservation Trust
Grants to help homeowners in the Willistown area convert their lawn into wildflower meadows. Learn more.
White Clay Wild and Scenic Catch the Rain Program
This program offers homeowner financial assistance in the White Clay watershed. Learn more.
Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
They install native meadows in Chester County in the Susquehanna watershed (Pequea, Conestoga, and Octorara watersheds). Contact them for more information. Learn more.
Penn State Pollinator Habitat Certification
This webpage has wonderful resources for season-long blooms and other pollinator support. Learn more.
Partner Organizations
- PA DCNR
- Penn State Extension Master Watershed Stewards Volunteers through this program can help with meadow installation projects. Contact Meagan Hopkins-Doerr, program coordinator, for more information.
- Brandywine Conservancy
- Brandywine Red Clay Alliance
- Christina Watersheds Municipal Partnership (CWMP) maintains a website with homeowner resources and has offered Lawn to Meadow workshops to educate landowners on how to implement and maintain meadows.
- Chester County Conservation District
Education and Resources
- DCNR's law conversion page is a great place to start your research. It provides useful information like a mowing savings calculator as well as places to seek assistance in the lawn conversion process.
- Sustainable Landscapes Certification provides information about how plants can provide ecosystem services that improve water quality, air quality, and enhance human health.
- Penn State Extension's website share lots of valuable information, including common myths debunked with facts, weed laws, and the first steps to converting a lawn.
- Page 13 of green stormwater management details lawn to meadow conversion. It also provides steps, operation / maintenance, benefits, and costs.
- Xerces Society's Establishing Pollinator Meadows from Seed guide.
- Native Meadow repository with links and education guides.
- We Conserve PA's From Lawn to Meadow guide.
- Neighborly Natural Landscaping in Residential Areas
- A team of Penn State Extension Master Watershed Stewards and Master Gardeners created a presentation workshop about community meadow basics. Contact Meagan Hopkins-Doerr at mxh1135@psu.edu for more information on this presentation.
- These are great guides for small garden spaces such as individual yards within an HOA community.
- "Cues of care" suggestions to create native plantings that are obviously cared for and not weeds.