>>1706083>near zero ecological valueI just really couldn't disagree more.. Healthy grass produces a deep mesh of roots and permanent soil microrganisms which can provide all sorts of beneficial services. For example it can respond to stormwater by absorbing massive amounts and then gradually releasing it over days and weeks, and also slow the impact of storm water as it makes its way into tributaries and rivers. It can filter and alkalinize the rainwater that passes through the soil to improve water chemistry/quality attributes, which can equate to better habitat for desirable species like aquatic bugs and reduced nitrate/phosphate leaching(as is the current norm and results from agriculture as well) which fuels the growth of siliceous organisms like algae. Healthy grass has stuff living in it, and there is nothing wrong with that..
for example, pic related. I think that's beautiful. If I had ten acres in the country, I wouldn't have 10 acres of lawn obviously. But it's nice to have clear open space around your home, even if it was only a half an acre or an acre of mostly open space. I think the wildlife buffer and the visibility and the security that results from that, would always be more than enough benefit for me to justify having some variety of mowed grasses and the lawnmower that comes along.. You can't really tell me that the path in this picture is "dead" in comparison to the rest of the picture. The grass is still photosynthesizing and still pushing roots and still absorbing rainwater.
