What flooding, family, and a bag of grass seed taught me about what lawns really mean — and why it might just be time for your greenest season yet.
I Don’t Own a Lawn — But I Still Deal with the Consequences
I live in an apartment. Ground floor. No lawn to mow, no flower beds to edge. I don’t spend weekends choosing between Kentucky bluegrass or fescue. But when it rained hard this spring, water came flooding in.
That’s the thing about lawns and landscapes—you don’t have to own one to be affected by them.
In my case, it started with a heavy downpour. The ground outside my unit was bare and compacted, the grass thin and struggling. With no strong root system to absorb or slow the runoff, the water had nowhere to go but straight under my threshold. A clogged pipe and poorly graded slope only made things worse.
Our property manager responded quickly—patched the carpet, ran blowers, investigated the drainage. They eventually discovered a collapsed gutter line and rootless, eroded turf that couldn’t hold anything. That flood wasn’t just about broken infrastructure. It was about the absence of one of the most basic building blocks of home resilience: healthy ground cover.
That’s when it clicked: lawn care isn’t just cosmetic. It’s foundational.
We All Need Those Shoots’ Roots
Even though I might never plant St. Augustine in my life, I still remember the feeling of it. That thick, spongy grass under our childhood Bradford pear tree—short-lived, brittle-limbed as it was—had a way of breaking the heavy summer air. I can still feel the cool blades under bare feet, the way it tickled your toes and offered a kind of relief only a shaded patch of lawn could.
Even if you’re Team ‘No-Mow’ May. Even if you’ve swapped turf for native prairie plants. Even if you hate the HOA’s obsession with green lawns — you know the value of roots.
They stabilize the soil. Prevent erosion. Absorb excess water. They make sure that what’s supposed to stay outside actually does. And when they’re healthy and deep? They support everything aboveground—plants, people, pets, and peace of mind.
And let’s not forget what happens on the grass. It’s the place where toddlers take their first wobbly steps. Where dogs chase invisible foes. Where cornhole tournaments get heated and picnic blankets get muddy. Lawns, however imperfect, host life.
That’s why I care. Even if I don’t own one.
It’s also why I’m not sold on “No Mow May.”
Why We’re Not Doing “No Mow May”
Sure, May’s almost over—but we don’t need to sound the alarm with a “mayday, mayday.” There’s still time to think critically about how we care for our lawns—not just for aesthetics, but for real environmental impact.
You’ve probably heard of No Mow May, a trend that started in the UK to help pollinators by letting lawns grow wild for a month. But Dr. Matthew Koch, Director of Biotechnology and Genetics at The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, offers a different take.
“Research shows that benefits to pollinators come mainly from allowing already weedy lawns to grow for a month, since the flowering weeds that thrive in these overgrown spaces act as a food source for pollinators.”
Koch recommends a more sustainable approach:
“Designating areas of the lawn to grow clover is a great way to increase biodiversity in the immediate area, and clover even acts as a natural fertilizer for soil by absorbing nitrogen from the atmosphere and transforming it to be usable by other plants.”
If you’re looking to take that route, O.M. Scott & Sons Clover Seed is a naturally low-maintenance product with no artificial or pest control ingredients.
Because it’s not about doing nothing—it’s about doing something that works.
What Kind of Grass Works for You?
(Hint: It’s Not a One-Size-Fits-All Answer)
This spring/summer, I’m giving away O.M. Scott & Sons grass seed as part of their Yard G.O.A.T. campaign.*
This is curated, regionally appropriate, homeowner-friendly seed you can actually use. Each blend is tailored to a different kind of lawn need — and if you’re overwhelmed by options, this might be your shortcut to clarity.
Let’s Grow Something Together
The giveaway is just the start — but I want it to be more than a one-off seed drop. I want it to be the beginning of better lawn care, better conversations, and better support for real homeowners with real yards.
Want in? Sign up for my newsletter to unlock full giveaway details + timely turf tips.
This isn’t just a freebie—it’s a full-on lawn glow-up with support, education, and the encouragement to actually use what you win.
Because the grass really is greener where you invest—and I’m here to help you make that investment count.
Subscribe to continue reading
Subscribe to get access to the rest of this post and other subscriber-only content.