We like to have lawns in front of our offices and houses because the greenery has a cooling effect. The belief is that they bring down the temperature at least by three or four degrees. While that is certainly true, there are a couple of disadvantages, especially if we go for the foreign variety of grass.
One, as the chances of termite attack or other insect infestation are high, pesticides will have to be used and their damage to human health can be imagined. Additionally, their maintenance will be a costly affair. Two, it requires a lot of water to keep the grass green. Do we get corresponding benefits? The answer is ‘No’. A clump of trees or a Miyawaki garden in its place will do more good. If we follow Miyawaki’s guidelines, we will be able to grow a garden in a plot of 50, 100 or 500 sq. ft. That is, if we plant 100 assorted plants in a one-cent plot, 40 percent of it will always be in bloom, be it summer, monsoon or winter. Besides a little bit of weeding or pruning, not much maintenance work is required.
There is another advantage to a flower garden or forest that a lawn does not have. As a plant or a tree grows, it puts out more and more leaves, and brings more greenery than grass at the ground level does within the same area. In short, the volume of leaves is 25 to 30 % more. Therefore try to grow Miyawaki model of gardens. It grows quickly and is easy to maintain.