Basics

This page aims to explore the impact of various Landscaping methods, and Soil Organic Matter
- This can be both a cost saving aspect (at least in Highly Managed Lawns going for a uniform green grass type look, even if fertilizer is required etc
  - May matter less in a Low Management Ground Cover Only Lawn
- Furthermore there is the Climate Change aspect of Land Use Change / Carbon Sequestration in Soil etc
Various other variables/externalities will be discussed on other pages listed in the “Internal Links” section

Hypotheses

Similar to the Permaculture concept of “ Chop and Drop “ , the use of quick growing biomass, and assuming a Mulching Lawnmower rather than a Bagging Lawnmower is used etc, this will create a layer of mulch / thatch that will decompose into Compost essentially, growing SOM

Due to the fine shredding of a mulching lawnmower (and to a lesser extent string trimmer, although if used to essentially scythe/chop down TALL growth, this is less valid), and the non-buried nature of a mulch/thatch layer, it will undergo rapid Aerobic Digestion and short of Ash Content minerals and such will largely have the Organic Fraction “burnt off”
To what degree Erosion via Wind is also encouraged via mowing also ties into this argument

It would be pretty simple…short of having land
Set up Test Plots
Have one area basically be “wild”
Have another area be wild, but occasionally mowed down to a certain height
Have another area that is a grass mix and left wild
Have another area that is a grass mix but mowed occasionally
Have a final area that is a grass mix but HEAVILY mowed at a low deck height
THEN after a year or more, do a Soil Sample Test and see what you learn
- Ideally “rinse and repeat”

Impact of Landscaping on Micro/Nano-Plastic Pollution
- Essentially does the use of a (Non-Biodegradable at least) String Trimmer impact Soil Microplastics at all/to what extent?
  - Given that (plastic) string is going…somewhere…via mechanical reduction (short of the occasional larger segment that can be picked up+disposed of properly)…where is that plastic dust going+what impacts does it potentially have
Impact of Landscaping on Biodiversity
- Ie Time Between Mowing Intervals and Local Biodiversity
Impact of Landscaping on Evapotranspiration
- Does more frequent mowing dry the soil out, or does longer grass/grass like mix of plants for ground cover “dry” the soil out more via increased evapotranspiration?
- Also long term impacts of the microclimate made via a lawn/irrigated lawn etc