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Ecology
Filtration
Typical grass types for lawns do little to retain and filter water, allowing it to quickly run off of lawns and immediately into storm drainage systems. In periods of heavy rainfall, the sudden increase in volume to a combined sewer system can result in sewage overflows as filtration plants exceed their capacity. Kentucky bluegrass, one of the most common species of lawn cover, has a very small root system in comparison to many other types of groundcover.
Diversity
The green carpet lawn is a monoculture, meaning that there is no species diversity. The lack of species diversity is an artificially constructed condition requiring the application of chemical to maintain its existence. Animals are less likely to choose grass lawns as habitats because they do not offer a variety of food sources, and the grass itself offers little shelter to most wildlife.
Diagram from Redesigning the American Lawn, p. 90-91.
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