#76: L.A. loves its lawns. And while a whole lotta you have transitioned to more drought-tolerant yards, there is still a lot of grass in front of most homes out there.

Statewide, about half of household water usage goes to outdoor landscaping. AND to stay looking nice and green….lawns require more irrigation than any other agricultural crop.

But how, in this desert climate of ours, did lush, green lawns become so popular? And how can we replace this water-guzzling crop with climate-appropriate alternatives?

LAist’s climate emergency reporter Erin Stone and producer Megan Botel head to the Los Angeles County Arboretum to find out.

Guest: Richard Schulhof, CEO of the Los Angeles County Arboretum

Check out Erin's article for more on the history and future of lawns in LA.