Why do people have lawns?

The lawn has grown in popularity in landscape architecture beginning about 300–400 years ago. It’s considered aesthetically pleasing to many to have an expanse of green around one’s home. Grass can be a vivid shade of green, it’s fairly easy to grow, and it makes a pretty ground-covering.

However, as you mentioned, people get out of hand with the lawn maintenance thing. Part of that is because people worry about maintaining the house value, another part is that people have their hobbies and obsessions. Lawn care seems to be one of these things. Lastly, it is kind of fun and satisfying to grow and tend plants. :)

You kind of sound like my mom. And yet we still have a nice lawn and it’s pretty big
for San Francisco. The reason why the lawn sticks around our house (and it goes all the
way around the house) is really only because it looks nice and it’s nice to have all that open space that you can walk on without having too much concrete and stone. Rock gardens are nice too, but you can’t walk on those. Sometimes people want the green and the walking space. Try visiting Phoenix, Arizona. The word “lawn” isn’t even the dictionaries they sell there, but that’s because it’s a desert.

Some lawns I see are yellow and what not and are there simply because it was already there, but at least in the case of my house, the lawn is upkept and there and there are still plenty plants, trees, and other garden space. I disagree with your “most lawns are too small”. That isn’t necessarily the case; a lot of lawns are used for pets and kids to run and play on and even lounge in the sun. I’ve seen houses with smaller lawns that get plenty of usage out of them. I’ve also seen neighborhoods where lawns are shared, like you said.

So to answer the question, the green is appealing to the eye and makes the house look better in many cases, the space can be walked on and used for kids and pets, and not to mention that most houses already have a lawn and removing it can be a lot of work.

You’re absolutely right; I once took classes from a Horticulturist who agreed with you 100%. Grass is really a silly, silly plant to try to grow in the fashion that we do. It doesn’t do well in all climates and locales (grass HATES shady spots), and even though it can tolerate some foot traffic, it really prefers not to be trampled on (even if you don’t squish the blades, you’re compacting the soil and depriving it of easy access to food and water.

It wasn’t until the early 20th century that Americans decided it was the in thing do grow lawns, in a sad attempt to copy wealthy Britons who had estates of rolling lush lawns.

In other words, lawns are just one more big, fat symbol that Americans love to keep up with the Jones’.

On the plus side for lawns though, they help with soil conservation, grass serves to feed several types of animals, and the maintenance is a vital part of our economy anymore.

And don’t you just love the way it feels between your toes?

Mostly peer pressure.

If parents allowed their kids to play on it and don’t mind the lawn gets messed up a bit, that would be another good reason.

Personally, I love a lawn; however, we do use a lot of our space for natural areas, trees and yes, a garden. I have a cut flower garden, veggies and fruits and a herb garden. Our natural areas incorporate things found in the yard, when we got there – a lot of large rocks. We’ve turned them into things to line pathways and along with a sturdy piece of wood, a nice bench.

Lawns, for some, a great sources of pleasure. My father loved to tend to his lawn. Very stress relieving for him. It was (still is – we’re working as a family to help my mom maintain the lawn) beautiful.

Also, I live in a very warm area, and the heat would reflect off a rock garden.

Because otherwise my lawn mower would be useless.
I love having a lawn. I would not have chosen my home if it didn’t have a yard. Grass smells wonderful, it feels great on bare feet, and it gives me a buffer from my neighbors homes. A community yard? It’s called a park. Rocks look great around my pool. Flowers are beautiful in the garden. I wouldn’t be happy surrounded by cement.

@filmfann….....Hell or Southern California, wait thats nearly the same place!

This is a great question. With all the starving people in the world, this questioned should be asked more often.

What else would I tell the kids to get off of?

I have no idea!
My bf and I just bought a house together, and it has expencive lawn (the kind that comes in rolls, green and pretty) newly laid in front. And I don’t want it! Maybe I should lay some beautifull stone there, of some sort?
But it kind’a feels wrong to ruin the lawn, all pretty and fresh and green…

I have a yard so I can spend every freakin’ weekend weeding/feeding, mowing, weed eating, fertilizing, scooping poop… um, yeah, I love having a yard.

Come to England. You will get the idea.

….the simple reason is that most north americans are boring, and their homes and their lawns reflect their lack of individuality and character and interest, or artistic qualities buried deep within them….Use the lawn to let it all out! Become creative!