English lawns in German gardens  Fieldwork

Germans love them: perfect English lawns. But why is this the case? And how environmentally friendly is this green carpet in front of our house?

As the home's flagship feature, the garden has certain expectations to fulfil. It should be neat and tidy, with no overgrowth. Anyone walking through German residential areas will quickly notice that bushes and plants are usually bordered by stones or lush green lawns. At least, that is, as long as summer has not completely dried out the area.

After all, environmentally unfriendly gravel gardens, i.e. gardens completely covered in grey gravel, are now frowned upon. In some municipalities, they are even explicitly prohibited. But how ecologically sensible is the supposedly natural "English" lawn, which is closely cropped, free of moss and devoid of flowers?

Where Does This Love for Short-Cut Grass Come From?

The history of lawns dates back a long way. As early as the Middle Ages, the grass around castles and fortresses was kept short to enable enemies to be spotted more easily across the extensive grounds. Lawns only really gained popularity in 18th century England, primarily for reasons of prestige. After all, only the wealthy could afford the staff required for the arduous task of mowing with a scythe. This expression of prestige, power and control has continued throughout history. In the 19th century, the aspiring bourgeoisie laid out "English lawns" around their villas. Today, a green lawn is simply part and parcel of a terraced house for many people, says Alexandra Rigos from NABU Berlin. Lawns have become so normalised that we no longer question them.

Climate Change Has Caught up With Us

In 2023, NABU Berlin wrote that English lawns are no longer appropriate or responsible in times of prolonged drought. Without regular watering, lush green grass quickly turns into a yellow steppe. One square metre of lawn can require up to 20 litres of water in summer. Due to climate change and increasingly hot summers, watering lawns is becoming a luxury as drinking water shortages become more common. In some places, therefore, watering lawns is only permitted at certain times. In Hanover, for instance, repeated watering outside the permitted times can result in a fine of up to 50,000 euros. “Every litre of water we don't waste today will help us when the situation worsens with advancing climate change,” says Hanover's responsible authority. It's a vicious circle. A dried-up lawn cannot cool the environment or absorb water as well during heavy rainfall.

Alexandra Rigos from NABU therefore makes a clear recommendation: A flower meadow. These are more drought-resistant, can absorb water, bind more CO2 than an English lawn and promote biodiversity. She says that more and more local authorities are now changing their approach in public spaces, leaving grass to grow longer more often. In times of species crisis, lawns are "an incredible waste of space". Scientific studies prove her right. Frequent mowing prevents dandelions, clover and other plants from growing and producing pollen and nectar, thus eliminating their role as a food source for insects. Researchers at the University of Cambridge transformed a lawn into a wildflower meadow and found that it was home to three times as many species of spider and beetle as the neighbouring lawn. The meadow also counteracted theheat island effect, reflecting 25 per cent more sunlight than the lawn.

How Neat Does Nature Need to Be?

Creating a wildflower meadow requires a lot of initial work. The topsoil must first be removed and usually mixed with sand, as wildflowers prefer poor soil. Once the wildflowers start to bloom, however, the meadow is easy to maintain and hardly needs mowing.

If you don't want to do that much work, or if you still want to play football on the lawn, you can leave the existing turf in place and reduce how often you mow. Mowing two to three times a year is sufficient – a species-rich habitat will develop naturally. With a little patience, plants such as dandelions and yarrow will become established. These plants are also much more drought-resistant than a short-cut English lawn. Since there is no need for fertiliser or scarifying, you will also save time and money. Wild bees and butterflies will thank you for it.

Wanting to keep a lawn "neat" is no longer appropriate. With dried-up grass, the question arises as to how well-maintained it ultimately looks. It is time for us to get used to gardens that are not designed to look "neat", but instead to contribute to biodiversity and climate adaptation.

August 2025