Jul 23, 2025
A Long Island homeowner has found herself in hot water after letting her yard go au natural.
Xilin Zhang of New Hyde Park, New York, transformed her front yard by replacing her traditional lawn with environmentally friendly native plants, using a $350 local grant that was designed for this purpose.
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“It’s a very natural look,” Zhang shared with CBS News. “There’s tons of butterflies and bees and birds coming. It’s not just some grass doing nothing.”
But local officials who’ve said Zhang’s landscaping looks “hideous” and violates local code have reportedly given her a summons with a fine of up to $2,000.
“When ugly is that overwhelming, you have to call it what it is," Mayor Christopher Devane told CBS News. “That front yard looks hideous.”
Fortunately, after four trips to the court, a compromise was reached between Zhang and local officials: the summons would be dismissed if the garden was kept below four feet. And while the mayor is happy that the situation has been resolved, he believes these kind of gardens need to look more aesthetically pleasing for this idea to catch on.
“There should be a happy medium," said Mayor Devane. "That, in my opinion, is not it."
Going au natural is a growing trend
Thanks to the non-profit organization Rewild Long Island, Zhang is part of a movement that encourages homeowners to transform traditional lawns into native plant gardens that require fewer resources and provide greater ecological benefits.
"There are lots of towns on Long Island which are encouraging people to put in wild flowers because they don't want all that pollution going into the bay," said Raju Rajan, president of Rewild Long Island.
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Natural gardens are beneficial because they offer a deeper root system than traditional grass lawns. While turf grass has a root system that’s about two inches deep, the roots from native plants can grow up to 15 feet in depth, allowing them to absorb ten times more rainwater than a typical lawn.
Native plants also attract birds, butterflies and bees by providing food, shelter and breeding sites that are essential for their survival.
"Sustainable gardens are not just beautiful for the eye," said Mindy Germain, the water commissioner in Port Washington, New York. “They protect our drinking water. We're trying to move away from these big green lawns that are sucking up too much water from our aquifer."
And the movement is growing. Many communities outside of New York state — including Green Bay, WI, Cincinnati, OH, and Bellevue, WA — have recognized the benefits of natural lawns by adopting ordinances that promote native plant landscaping.
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How to plant a native garden without the backlash
If you’re thinking about converting your grass lawn into a native garden but want to avoid the headaches that Zhang experienced, the best way to do so is to be proactive:
- Consult with local officials and neighbors to understand potential concerns
- Focus on aesthetics that match community standards
- Create clear borders to show intentional design rather than neglect
Natural lawns offer significant environmental benefits, but local regulations vary by location. Because of this, it’s critical to communicate with neighbors and authorities to understand not only legal concerns but also the aesthetic concerns that neighbors might have.
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Cory Santos is a finance writer, editor and credit card expert with over seven years of experience in personal finance. Having lived and worked worldwide, Cory now calls South Florida home, helping consumers find their ideal credit card and offering impartial and approachable advice to help them navigate their best financial lives. Cory joined Wise Publishing from BestCards, with bylines in numerous digital publications across North America, including AOL, MSN, Yahoo Finance, the Miami Herald, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and more. When he isn't scouring for the latest credit card deals and offers, Cory can be found working on his various historical research projects, jogging, or hanging out with his cats, Bentley, Cougar, and Pumpkin.
