DOI: 10.11118/978-80-7701-087-0-0162

FORMS OF APPLICATION OF GRASS–HERBACEOUS PLANT COMMUNITIES IN URBAN ENVIRONMENTS

Marek Hus¹, Anna Pástorová¹

¹ Institute of Landscape Architecture, Faculty of Horticulture and Landscape Engineering, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Trieda Andreja Hlinku 2, 949 76 Nitra, Slovakia

Grass–herbaceous mixtures represent an important component of contemporary urban environments, contributing to ecological stability, aesthetic quality, and the overall resilience of cities. As urban areas increasingly face the impacts of climate change, the urban heat island effect, biodiversity loss, and growing maintenance demands for public spaces, the use of meadow-like vegetation as a designed landscape element is gaining particular importance. Grass–herbaceous plant communities provide a sustainable alternative to traditionally intensively mown lawns and offer a wide range of ecological, social, and economic benefits. This paper focuses on the forms of application of grass–herbaceous mix tures in urban environments, drawing on experiences and current trends observed in Slovak and Czech cities. It examines different types of plantings, including meadow mixtures for extensive areas, park lawns, specialized mixtures for dry or highly exposed sites, and plantings that combine aesthetic value with ecological function. The study analyzes the role of these vegetation elements in urbanized environments, particularly their contribution to supporting biodiversity, improving urban microclimates, enhancing rainwater retention, and reducing maintenance requirements. The findings highlight the potential of grass–herbaceous communities as multifunctional elements that can improve both the ecological performance and visual quality of urban landscapes.

Keywords: urban greenery; grass–herbaceous plant communities; biodiversity; urban microclimate; sustainable urban landscape

pages: 162-168, Published: 2026, online: 2026