Lawns: Where They Came From, Where They're Going Next
We walk past them every day. Water them with our sweat as we mow them. Let our kids play barefoot in the cool cushioning they offer. But rarely do we ever think about where, exactly, where our lawns come from.
While lawns as we know them are a relatively new concept developed in the past few hundred years, the idea of surrounding one’s home with a carefully cultivated version of the natural world has existed since antiquity. In ancient Persia, walled or “paradise” gardens featuring lavish ponds and fountains were a way for the elite to display their wealth. In ancient Greece and Rome, peristyles—large courtyards surrounded by columns or pillars, which featured a mixed array of flowers and shrubs—were similarly popular among the upper classes.
It wasn’t until the Middle Ages though that our modern-day lawns really began to take shape. The word lawn likely originated from the Middle English launde, which referred to an open glade or clearing within a wooded area. Artificial stretches of grass, known as village “commons,” were present in Europe at this time, but their use was far more practical (i.e., for grazing livestock) than aesthetic. Even the open grassy swaths surrounding castles of the nobility existed for purely pragmatic reasons: in an era rife with violence, watchmen needed a clear view unobstructed by trees so they could spot any would-be attackers well in advance of their arrival.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the concept of a village commons and luxury landscaping converged. Wealthy landowners in England and France embraced the idea of extensive gardens framed in swaths of manicured grasses and herbs. Think Palace of Versailles, with its immaculate rows of trees, extensive hedge mazes, intricately shaped shrubs, and, of course, perfectly kept grass. For the Renaissance elite, replicating such a place was the ultimate status symbol. And, gradually, as the 18th and 19th centuries dawned, bringing waves of immigrants from Europe to North America—a land of new landowners and new economic opportunities—lawns seeped into the American cultural conscious.
But how did lawns make the jump from being a sign of wealth to the very quotidian landscape surrounds almost every western house today?
Much of that was down industrialization. While primitive versions of lawnmowers have existed since 1830, the early 20th century saw the manufacturing of gasoline- and electric-powered mowers. This, in addition to new innovations in grass seed mixes and chemical fertilizers, made lawncare more accessible and affordable than ever before. Lawns gained even more popularity following WWII, when government-funded low-cost mortgages sparked a housing boom among a middle class that was flocking to suburbia and the spacious homes thereof.
Lawns have grown to be the most abundant crop grown in the US (albeit not one we can eat), and their long history as a symbol of wealth and high social standing continues to endure. As Crystal D’Costa of Scientific American puts it, lawns are “viewed as an indicator of socio-economic character, which translates into property- and resale values. Lawns are indicative of success; they are a physical manifestation of the American Dream of home ownership. To have a well-maintained lawn is a sign to others that you have the time and/or the money to support this attraction.”
Despite their deep-rooted place in western culture (or maybe because of it), a debate has emerged in recent years about whether or not we should have lawns at all. Are they engrained into the white picket fence American Dream? Yes. Do they affect property values? Undeniably. But they’re also a cause for concern among conservationists.
While a lush green lawn might look nice, it also comes at a cost—not only for the homeowner, but for the environment as well.
Especially in dryer, hotter climates—the number of which will unfortunately continue to increase due to global warming—lawns need a great deal of water. Using an excessive amount of freshwater in places of water scarcity can have a huge impact on both communities and native wildlife. Scarcity aside, it also requires energy, often drawn from fossil fuels, to extract water from the ground, purify it, test it, and deliver it to consumers.
The use of herbicides and pesticides is another massive downside of lawn maintenance. While these products can help to control weeds and unwanted insects, they can also be toxic to an array of non-target flora and fauna, and can easily spread through the food web. Toxic chemicals can also contaminate both the water table and surface water via runoff.
Due to these and other concerns (decreased biodiversity, fossil fuel emissions from lawn care equipment, synthetic fertilizers, etc.), there has been a growing interest in alternative landscaping approaches that are more sustainable and ecologically friendly.
Many environmentally conscious Americans have decided to switch out their lawns for meadows, uncultivated areas featuring herbaceous plants. At least where ecology is concerned, meadows surpass grass turfs in numerous ways, solving all of the aforementioned issues that lawns create: They’re better equipped to absorb water and act as natural water filters. They contribute to biodiversity—to varying degrees, depending on what’s planted, but any decrease in monoculture can make a difference. Meadows rich in wildflowers are also hugely beneficial to pollinators, many of which are facing declining populations.
Aside from meadows, hardscape materials like rocks and gravel, as well as mulch, shrubs, and trees, can all be used to accent lawns while reducing water consumption and the use of toxic chemicals.
Lawns are deeply engrained in American culture and history, and it’s unlikely that they’ll disappear into obscurity anytime soon. But especially as climate change becomes an increasingly pressing issue, shifting away from lawns toward more sustainable landscaping methods will hopefully gain favor among those who want to save—save their money, save their time, and save the earth.
While lawns as we know them are a relatively new concept developed in the past few hundred years, the idea of surrounding one’s home with a carefully cultivated version of the natural world has existed since antiquity. In ancient Persia, walled or “paradise” gardens featuring lavish ponds and fountains were a way for the elite to display their wealth. In ancient Greece and Rome, peristyles—large courtyards surrounded by columns or pillars, which featured a mixed array of flowers and shrubs—were similarly popular among the upper classes.
It wasn’t until the Middle Ages though that our modern-day lawns really began to take shape. The word lawn likely originated from the Middle English launde, which referred to an open glade or clearing within a wooded area. Artificial stretches of grass, known as village “commons,” were present in Europe at this time, but their use was far more practical (i.e., for grazing livestock) than aesthetic. Even the open grassy swaths surrounding castles of the nobility existed for purely pragmatic reasons: in an era rife with violence, watchmen needed a clear view unobstructed by trees so they could spot any would-be attackers well in advance of their arrival.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the concept of a village commons and luxury landscaping converged. Wealthy landowners in England and France embraced the idea of extensive gardens framed in swaths of manicured grasses and herbs. Think Palace of Versailles, with its immaculate rows of trees, extensive hedge mazes, intricately shaped shrubs, and, of course, perfectly kept grass. For the Renaissance elite, replicating such a place was the ultimate status symbol. And, gradually, as the 18th and 19th centuries dawned, bringing waves of immigrants from Europe to North America—a land of new landowners and new economic opportunities—lawns seeped into the American cultural conscious.
But how did lawns make the jump from being a sign of wealth to the very quotidian landscape surrounds almost every western house today?
Much of that was down industrialization. While primitive versions of lawnmowers have existed since 1830, the early 20th century saw the manufacturing of gasoline- and electric-powered mowers. This, in addition to new innovations in grass seed mixes and chemical fertilizers, made lawncare more accessible and affordable than ever before. Lawns gained even more popularity following WWII, when government-funded low-cost mortgages sparked a housing boom among a middle class that was flocking to suburbia and the spacious homes thereof.
Lawns have grown to be the most abundant crop grown in the US (albeit not one we can eat), and their long history as a symbol of wealth and high social standing continues to endure. As Crystal D’Costa of Scientific American puts it, lawns are “viewed as an indicator of socio-economic character, which translates into property- and resale values. Lawns are indicative of success; they are a physical manifestation of the American Dream of home ownership. To have a well-maintained lawn is a sign to others that you have the time and/or the money to support this attraction.”
Despite their deep-rooted place in western culture (or maybe because of it), a debate has emerged in recent years about whether or not we should have lawns at all. Are they engrained into the white picket fence American Dream? Yes. Do they affect property values? Undeniably. But they’re also a cause for concern among conservationists.
While a lush green lawn might look nice, it also comes at a cost—not only for the homeowner, but for the environment as well.
Especially in dryer, hotter climates—the number of which will unfortunately continue to increase due to global warming—lawns need a great deal of water. Using an excessive amount of freshwater in places of water scarcity can have a huge impact on both communities and native wildlife. Scarcity aside, it also requires energy, often drawn from fossil fuels, to extract water from the ground, purify it, test it, and deliver it to consumers.
The use of herbicides and pesticides is another massive downside of lawn maintenance. While these products can help to control weeds and unwanted insects, they can also be toxic to an array of non-target flora and fauna, and can easily spread through the food web. Toxic chemicals can also contaminate both the water table and surface water via runoff.
Due to these and other concerns (decreased biodiversity, fossil fuel emissions from lawn care equipment, synthetic fertilizers, etc.), there has been a growing interest in alternative landscaping approaches that are more sustainable and ecologically friendly.
Many environmentally conscious Americans have decided to switch out their lawns for meadows, uncultivated areas featuring herbaceous plants. At least where ecology is concerned, meadows surpass grass turfs in numerous ways, solving all of the aforementioned issues that lawns create: They’re better equipped to absorb water and act as natural water filters. They contribute to biodiversity—to varying degrees, depending on what’s planted, but any decrease in monoculture can make a difference. Meadows rich in wildflowers are also hugely beneficial to pollinators, many of which are facing declining populations.
Aside from meadows, hardscape materials like rocks and gravel, as well as mulch, shrubs, and trees, can all be used to accent lawns while reducing water consumption and the use of toxic chemicals.
Lawns are deeply engrained in American culture and history, and it’s unlikely that they’ll disappear into obscurity anytime soon. But especially as climate change becomes an increasingly pressing issue, shifting away from lawns toward more sustainable landscaping methods will hopefully gain favor among those who want to save—save their money, save their time, and save the earth.