Sustainable landscaping: A new perspective for hospitals | Viewpoint

Hospital and clinic landscaping is the piece most overlooked by health systems in their quest to become healthier and more sustainable. Yet there are actually numerous ways that changes to landscaping can save money and be healthier for patients, staff, and the surrounding community.

In suburban and rural areas, traditional landscaping means broad expanses of lawn; in urban areas, it means strips of lawn alongside sidewalks, parking areas, and entrances. These lawns are mowed frequently and sprayed with a variety of pesticides to keep them looking like a green carpet. Any gardens tend to be composed of non-native plants with zero thought given to the pesticides in which those plants have been grown.

So what’s the problem? Well, a lot as it turns out.

Let’s start with the health impacts, since the first order of business of any health system is to provide care and do no harm. Except, it seems, when it comes to the area directly outside the front door.

Those lawn chemicals that are so ubiquitous and that are even seen as a badge of honor for people seeking to show off a “perfect” lawn are actually associated with Parkinson’s disease (JAMA Network, May 8, 2025), neurodevelopmental problems, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2012). Pesticide exposure has also been associated with childhood wheeze and asthma (Current Pediatric Reviews, 2023).

And for those interested in carbon emissions, it’s worth noting that gas-powered lawn equipment represents nearly 4% of all volatile organic compound emissions and 12% of all carbon monoxide emissions (EPA).

There is also an ecological impact, as pollinators like butterflies, moths, and native bees require native plant species to feed their young. They also require plants that haven’t been doused with pesticides. As these native plants get replaced with lawn and non-native species, our pollinators die out and so do the birds and other creatures who feed on them.

Luckily, health systems have plenty of alternatives, and they typically cost less to install and maintain. The most obvious among them saves money right off the bat: stop spraying hospital lawns. You could also mow less often – that will save on fuel and labor.

But for real impact, health systems need to think about lawn replacement. Instead of landscaping your entrances and sidewalk strips and parking lot divides with lawn, landscape them with native plants. Think big and create a beautiful mental health retreat full of pollinator-friendly native plants. Nature has given you infinite variety to play with, from groundcovers to plants of different heights to shrubs and trees. Every region has its own mix of native species, leading to a design palette rooted in your locale.

There are also health benefits associated with gardens. Viewing gardens is associated with reduced pain meds and shorter hospital stays (Science, 1984). Garden breaks have been shown to reduce nurse burnout more than indoor breaks (AACN Journals, 2018).

Native species beat lawn for carbon storage, too. One acre planted with native prairie species can store one ton of carbon per year, compared to 0.25 to 0.5 tons per year when planted with lawn (Deep Roots). Native plants also include native trees, and a single tree can store from 120 to 150 pounds of carbon (8 Billion Trees).

By replacing lawn with native plant gardens, you create a beautiful landscape that can be enjoyed by staff, patients, and visitors. And the benefits keep going. Every native plant in bloom provides your health system with a new PR opportunity. Every turn of the season gives you a new visual to showcase your commitment to sustainability and the health of your community.

Your patients may not remember the sustainable choices you make with your HVAC system or your surgical suite – but they will remember the stunning gardens that brought a smile to their face and gave them a sense of calm during a time of stress and worry.

If your goal is to support public health and provide the very best patient care, then your health system has everything to gain and nothing to lose by reconsidering your landscaping.

Jennifer Michelle, MPH is a Sustainable Health Strategist. She owns GreenTown Consulting.