Making the Grass Greener, By Any Means Necessary

With drought conditions not seen in the U.S. since the middle of the last century, the battle to maintain the lushest lawn in the neighborhood has heated up. The Dirt bloggers report on the growing trend of lawn painting.

1 minute read

August 23, 2012, 9:00 AM PDT

By jerinbrent


It's bound to make some landscape architects cringe, but business is booming for lawn painting companies. Considerably cheaper than the more sustainable practice of xeriscaping, lawn painting can freshen a front yard for under $200. Commonly used in desert climates such as Phoenix, lawn painting has started spreading across the country as water restrictions have tightened.

Terri LoPrimo of Staten Island, NY, chose to have her lawn sprayed with an organic dye that she says left her lawn looking "like a spring lawn, the way it looks after a rain. It's really gorgeous." Staten Island based entrepreneurs, Grass Is Greener Lawn Painting, say their dyes are "non-toxic, environmentally friendly turf dye that [...] is commonly used on golf courses and athletic fields to give them a lusher appearance."

The Dirt author is not convinced, however, and points out that "there really isn't such a thing as an environmentally-friendly dye given the huge amount of water that actually goes into producing dyes." Instead, they encourage readers to educate themselves about the long-term financial benefits of native landscaping and xeriscaping.

Thanks to Jessica Brent

Tuesday, August 21, 2012 in THE DIRT

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Redlining map of Oakland and Berkeley.

Rethinking Redlining

For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

May 15, 2025 - Alan Mallach

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 14, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Rendering of California High-Speed Rail station with bullet train.

California High-Speed Rail's Plan to Right Itself

The railroad's new CEO thinks he can get the project back on track. The stars will need to align this summer.

May 19, 2025 - Benjamin Schneider

Cobblestone street with vintage street lamps in Savannah, Georgia.

Savannah Reduces Speed Limits on Almost 100 City Streets

The historic Georgia city is lowering speed limits in an effort to reduce road fatalities.

5 hours ago - WJCL

Sign for Loma Alta Park in Altadena, Los Angeles County.

A Park Reborn: Resilience and Renewal in Fire-Stricken Altadena

Rebuilt in just two months after the devastating Eaton Fire, Loma Alta Park now stands as a symbol of community resilience and renewal, even as some residents hope recovery efforts will continue to support housing stability and long-term equity.

6 hours ago - Pasadena NOw

Colorful historic homes in Madrid, Spain.

Spain Moves to Ban 66,000 Airbnbs

The national government is requiring the short-term rental operator to remove thousands of illegal listings from its site as part of an effort to stem a growing housing crisis.

May 20 - The New York Times

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.