Greener Grass? Factors Related to Reducing Environmental Impacts of Lawn Care Companies

Abstract

Lawn care companies, in response to the cultural norm of a green, weed-free lawn, are providing services that can negatively impact both ecological and human health. Since these companies have widespread impacts and are relied upon for their expert decisions, it is useful to understand factors that influence their practices. This study examines the roles that psychological factors, company characteristics and use of information sources play in influencing lawn care companies’ decisions regarding fertilizer and pesticide application. The intention is to identify strategies for improving communication with lawn care companies as a means of influencing their practices.

Interviews (n=29) and a survey (n=65) administered in southern Michigan explored how company characteristics and psychological factors affect lawn care companies’ use of information sources. Then, each of these three domains was examined for their effect on a variety of lawn care practices involving fertilizer and pesticide use.

Findings suggest that lawn care managers’ motivations match their use of information sources; for example, companies with managers motivated by business considerations were significantly more likely to use industry-promoting information sources. With respect to practices, industry-promoting information sources were shown to be related to use of preferred fertilizers (such as slow-release nitrogen), but also to damaging pesticide practices (such as weed-n-feed). Furthermore, larger lawn care companies made more applications per year and were significantly less likely to engage in preferred pesticide practices (such as Integrated Pest Management).

Recommendations are detailed to assist organizations that communicate with lawn care companies in efforts to improve ecological and human health. These organizations should consider utilizing industry-promoting sources, targeting larger companies, and framing the messages to match the motivations salient for the greatest percentage of lawn care companies—business considerations. In addition, efforts could be made to simultaneously address the cultural norm of the weed-free lawn aesthetic, and to encourage lawn care companies to recognize that they can be agents of change to reduce impacts on the environment.