A history of Lawns

This updated and expanded version of a History Guy Short from 2019 details the long history of a summer chore that has become synonymous with the American dream.
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This is original content based on research by The History Guy. Images in the Public Domain are carefully selected and provide illustration. As very few images of the actual event are available in the Public Domain, images of similar objects and events are used for illustration.
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Script by THG
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[@marvindebot3264]

You seriously did a program on lawns and mowing them without mentioning Victa? Shame on you!

[@richardtravalini6731]

When I was a kid, I grew up in a inter-city row house. The very small back yard was used exclusively for a vegetable garden and so, the only grass that we had to deal with is that which grew in the cracks of the sidewalk. Now that I'm older (73), I own a modest home in the suburbs where the lot is only 1/4 acre and so the lawn in both the front and back is very small. I'm often criticized by friends and neighbors for cutting my own grass at my age. I use a powered push mower that is NOT self propelled. I explain to my critics, that cutting and trimming my lawn is the only exercise that I get, much like going to a gym. Except, I don't pay for the privilege of exercising and don't have to pay someone to mow. It's a double win for me.

[@gcb345]

I don't know if I'll be mowing my own lawn at 70, but I've told many people that common physical activity that we take for granted such as walking, can go away sooner than you think. So appreciate the ability that you have. One day you could find yourself envying those who can do daily tasks that you can no longer do, or is a huge challenge to do.

[@jackkerouac6186]

Richard that's smart

[@sirmounted8499]

Good on you man

[@fireballxl-5748]

Congrats you have been blessed to have the strength and the gumption to mow your lawn. Well done!

[@campbellpaul]

I intend to keep up my lawn until I'm 80 (at least that's my goal). I have no intention to listen to my neighbors, regardless of what they may say 😄

[@theplaguedoctor1862]

All my neighbors around me have perfect lines except me I like the little purple violets and this year I decided to find white yellow and mixed colored violets and sprinkle the seeds all over my lawn. I've often wondered when did we start considering pretty wildflowers as weeds and something to dump chemicals on. And we wonder why the bees are dying out.

[@user-vm5ud4xw6n]

My son absolutely loves when someone calls him up and says they are sick of mowing or don’t have the time. He will be glad to come take care of it for you! It’s $$ in his pocket!!

[@mike30534]

My grandmother had a sand lawn, swept with a homemade broom that I helped her harvest from broom straw fields and later bound up with bailing twine. Around her swept lawn was a privet hedge row that was about 48" high and trimmed into a square shape. Since the lawn was well shaded by oaks, she felt the need to rake and sweep her lawn almost daily. A number of years ago I wrote a grant that was funded to record the historic resources in my area. I chose a professor from the University of GA to be the professional of record, then had a great summer taking her around the area and recording the significant buildings and sites. The professor specialized in historic lawns, and as a very amateur gardener, I gladly learned much that summer. I combined the historic lawn knowledge with information I gained from a neighbor who was president of the GA Native Plant Society. I'm still not an expert on the subject of historic gardening; however, I have found it absolutely fascinating how people often took their "pass-around' flowers, shrubs and fruit trees with them as the settled the frontier. Oftentimes one can follow a migration path from north to south and farther and farther inland by the plants they left as they settled different areas. Two of the most touching finds I have made in looking at former homesites and trying to locate them on a property has been what remains as testimony of the history: 1. Often one will find the hearth and remains of a chimney. When I have found such sites I've often imagined the frontier family huddled around the hearth cooking, sleeping and sharing their own family histories. 2. The landscaping that remains often leads from the old wagon roads to the front steps of a home that vanished long ago. I often go looking for those old home places in late winter, 'before the snakes start crawling' as my grandparents said. In one homesite where I knew of the family who lived there on a high, undisturbed ridge, was their rows of jonquils lining each side of the walkway to the front step, then the depression where their root cellar had been and lastly the hearth and remains of a chimney. Sitting there for 100 years, abandoned and undisturbed, the legacy of a family remained recorded in the form of their hearth and the flowers lovingly planted so long ago.

[@johnds6621]

My grandfather use to mow lawns with a manual push mower as a side job in the 30's. My father got a quarter for working with him for the day. I find mowing lawns relaxing and still use a walk behind one.

[@jdinhuntsvilleal4514]

I have a "mullet" lawn -- nice is the front, rather shaggy in the back. 🙂 That's because in my back yard of approximately 1/4 acre, I have 14 pine trees. When I bought the place I decided I wasn't going to even attempt to grow grass back there, so the back is pretty much nothing but pine needles with various weeds poking through. It IS mowed, occasionally, to keep the weeds in check.

[@goodun2974]

We have 3.9 acres where we live in rural New England and the house is surrounded by oak trees, and so the biggest issue we have is getting rid of the leaves in the late fall ( We blow them down the hill Into the woods and let them compost naturally) The lawn, such as it is, is half wild and I basically weed whack it every 4 to 6 weeks and take care not to hurt the frogs, toads snakes and salamanders that absolutely love our little piece of semi-wild habitat.

[@craigbenz4835]

I'm often tempted to fill my back yard with red pines to kill the grass dead so I don't have to mow it.

[@viennapalace]

@@goodun2974 You need a goat.

[@goodun2974]

@@viennapalace , tempting, but my gigantic Anatolian Shepherd would love nothing better than to eat livestock!

[@jdinhuntsvilleal4514]

@@craigbenz4835 You'd still have to mow occasionally because weeds and vines will still grow in the carpet of pine needles. I use a service, and they mow the back 3 or 4 times a season.

[@b_uppy]

Chamomile was used for lawns, too, in England.

[@RetiredSailor60]

Good morning from Ft Worth TX to everyone watching...I don't mind mowing, edging, and blowing my lawn/sidewalk. It gives me solitude and I get lost in my own thoughts while doing it.

[@RetiredSailor60]

@Jebus Hypocristos I also have a veggie garden and I tend to 5 hens who gives me fresh eggs every day.

[@davidgarr7302]

Fort Worth resident as well. We have a small yard, but it's one of my escapes to go mow and edge the lawn every Saturday. I take pride in keeping it nice too! Most of my neighbors have crews that do it for them.

[@steverennie5787]

I was my family's "lawn mower service" from when I was age 7, right up until I got my own home (age 27). Now I labor on my own lawn... it is a time suck to a degree, but for me I enjoy tending to the garden, so doing the lawn is but a step.

[@MrTaxiRob]

it might not be as intricate as bonsai, but it's still very zen.

[@MileHighGrowler]

Soooo many people hate doing lawn work. I find it therapeutic. I love spending time on my lawn and garden. And over the years, I've figured out for my area how to have the greenest lawn even though I give mine less water and it gets more kid/pet traffic than any of my neighbors. Perhaps it's a source of pride, but more than that, it's my sanctuary. It makes me happy to see a lush green lawn, and getting outside any day to work on it is better than sitting inside at a computer and working.

[@dirtcop11]

A quick look at state maps in the US shows the popularity of naming cities and towns Bowling Green. A lush lawn is a joy to walk through barefooted. Most lawns have more than just grass. They have shrubs and flower beds for color and fragrance. I get most of my exercise from mowing the lawn and I do like the smell of fresh-cut grass. When I was a teen, mowing lawns gave kids some pocket money. One of my former coworkers bought a riding mower, he had a young teenage son. He said he only mowed the lawn once all year long, his son mowed it at least once a week without being asked to. It seemed that he was pretending to be a racecar driver.

[@scotcoon1186]

That worked on me for about two summers. 2 acres with a 38" deck got to being too slow. Eventually I stepped up to an 84" deck behind a 35 horse utility tractor.

[@tomvoncharon6359]

@@scotcoon1186 mowed 11+ with a 50" for almost 10 years. Decided it wasn't worth it. Moved back to town.

[@mikebronicki8264]

I mow about 3 acres of yard and near 2 miles of trails on my 26 acre property. It is my favorite chore along with hand shoveling snow. After a few decades of 46 inch tractors I now own a 54 inch. Over the years I have spent exactly zero dollars on weed and feed and I water only to avoid brown lawns.

[@poughkeepsieblue]

You almost share my sisters name... if it weren't for an I and an e. I just had to like your comment and say it. Be safe!

[@NoNORADon911]

I have mulch and food plants. Lawns are for grassholes lol

[@billnotice9957]

My neighbor is lawn manic. He does patterns and it immaculate. I mow because I have too. Now that I have a bagger it does not look like a hayfield. He told me he laughs at me box cutting style. But to his credit he understands since he is retired. He has time to do the fancy work. To make peace I let his friends park on my lawn instead of his for his large gatherings. I usually get a free steak too!!!

[@warsawpacked418]

I am real old school, I love my lawn and I don't consider maintaining to be chore but more of hobby. Green grass, a few palms, some kiwis and papayas, its a little slice of sub tropical paradise.

[@rcnfo1197]

Great episode! As a homeowner for 22 years I was curious about the origin of the modern obsession with lawns. With lawns comes the never ending battle against weeds, drought, and of course growth, along with the noise and air pollution of gas mowers and blowers. We need to evolve beyond this mess!

[@f3xpmartian]

I"ll watch this when I get back...... I've got to mow the lawn. Please keep up the great work.

[@captainamerica6525]

Always enjoyed mowing the lawn. The weed whacking and edging were also enjoyable. Always liked the end result.

[@jenniferspeers6537]

My absolute least favorite outdoor jobs. Lol. I find lawn care such a waste of time.

[@waveygravey3575]

A history of Lawns The video I didn't know I wanted until now

[@51WCDodge]

Quick note : Horse drawn rollers, cutters, the horses were fitted with leather overshoes so as not to leave prints in the lawn.

[@kevinh.2244]

best nickname in history ever, "Pope of Turf Grass" lol. can see him walking past front lawns blessing them and leaving a waffer on the fence and a quick spritz of weed killer and then moving on.

[@kthwkr]

The original reason for lawns seems to be overlooked. It was recognized that if you cleared out the area around your dwelling it reduced the incursion of wild life. Rats, snakes, etc. But the problem is often the dirt would wash terribly in the rain. So growing something to hold the soil was a good idea. It had to be vegetation that could be kept cut short enough to not allow any cover for critters but still survive and keep growing. I have personally seen many situations where the lawn was not kept up and plants were allowed to grow next to the house. Inevitably critters moved in. Just recently I had to dig up and fill armadillo holes that went deep down next to the foundation. The holes were hidden behind some overgrown shrubs. I cut down the shrubs and the armadillos have not returned.

[@jafinch78]

Yes, that's about the only logic I buy into in regards to the enforcement of lawn requirements... otherwise... illegal and ill intent minded the toxic, not renewable, wasteful of agriculture resources and not regenerative methods.

[@Laurpud]

Huh, I never thought of that; interesting!

[@OGKenG]

@@jafinch78 Illegal??

[@jafinch78]

@@OGKenG Yes like ill, whether intentional or not, legal. Leering, coercion, trespass, assault, robbery, malice acts and other laws that violate property rights as well as personality and person potential incidents that depend on the invasive nuisances deviations causing, inciting or aggravating an incident that didn't exist until they starter leering to assault from what I've seen intentionally., willfully, wanton and knowingly... even if they play dumb once caught like typical pedo klepto old dope fiend mobs.

[@masterimbecile]

Lawn and Order: Special Vegetations Unit

[@patpierce4854]

A wonderful long running BBC program called “Gardener’s World” ran a multi part special about lawns, lawn care, and the development of the gadgets to maintain these patches of green. One version was actually pulled by camels, because their softer feet didn’t require the boots the horses or ponies did.

[@andyharman3022]

We didn't have a lawn at home. Dad always said "mow the yard" to his four boys. And he never bought a new lawn mower. He bought junky pieces and had us build our own mowers. No riding mowers, or even a self-propelled. Nothing but a pure and simple rotary push mower. One by one, we reached the age of 12 and were engaged in this family tradition. Then after the last of us attained the next age of passage and went to college, dad popped down to Sears and Roebuck and bought a riding mower.

[@bobvorwald9737]

We ripped out our front lawn 3 years ago, (we live in an arid western state). Replaced it with native plants. Best thing we ever did to our property.

[@SeaniMonsta]

Well done, I'm certain you have the best looking property, at the lowest of long-term cost, and of the lowest maintenance. I bet you get more colorful birds seeking food and shelter from the hot sun, too. Lawns are the definition of 'keeping up with the Joneses.'

[@jeffpiatt3879]

I love my lawn and caring for it is one of the simple pleasures that I enjoy.

[@stevedietrich8936]

Good morning THG. We made it to the middle of the week.

[@michaelmorrison6540]

I was amused by the hybrid bicycle and reel push mower at 11:56. I took a photo of a nearly identical device proudly displayed on a lawn last summer in Edgemont, South Dakota in Fall River County; not far from Hot Springs... the childhood home of none other than The History Guy. The lawn mowing apparatus I saw had a large sign next to it that reads: Redneck Riding Lawnmower.

[@matthewbyrd398]

I love mowing my yard, and keeping my grass beautiful!!

[@brentgranger7856]

Thank you for yet another great episode! I must be in the minority of people who loved mowing my yard. I guess it really depends on the equipment and/or your personal life. My father bought a Gravely zero-turn, which I absolutely loved driving! When I owned my own home, I had a Gravely zero-turn "walk-behind" self-propelled mower. I am currently seeking to buy another home, which means more lawn care, which I absolutely loved doing.

[@graycav56]

In the 90s I had a 44 thousand square foot lot, which sounds huge until you realize that a large chunk was taken up by a water retention basin. In growing season I’d hop on my Craftman tractor, put on my headphones and turn on the Motor Racing Network as I, Walter Mitty style, attacked the high banks of the basin like Dale Earnhardt at Talladega!

[@musicauthority9939]

Lawn care is a soul crushing time suck. that was AWESOME since I can't stand doing any kind of yard work at all. so that statement is perfect for me.

[@drats1279]

My brother and I were the official lawnmowers of our family pushing a mower and using a hand-operated trimmer. We did not see a power mower until high school and it belonged to a neighbor. There is a certain satisfaction in having a well-manicured lawn. That said, I think it is a big expense and a waste of time and water. People spend a sizeable amount of both to get the grass to grow only to cut it off and start again. Very interesting informatin, as usual. thank you.

[@richardbowser3372]

I was thinking about this yesterday! Thank you for the post History Guy.

[@DavidKutzler]

The late humorist, Erma Bombeck, titled her book on suburban living, *The Grass is Always Greener over the Septic Tank.*

[@victorwadsworth821]

"If Life Is a Bowl of Cherries What Am I Doing in the Pits?"

[@camohawk6703]

And you just reminded me I need to mow.

[@jonmccormick6805]

During my early years of grass cutting, there were a couple of times a year that as soon as all the area was cut, it was time to start again. A bigger mower wasn't in the budget. After I began learning about mechanical contraptions, dad and I made a deal: I would get the mower goin' and he would get the goer mowin'. Thank you, Lance, even though there were no pirates, it was still a good story, especially about something so, ummm, common.

[@michellel564]

I hated mowing the yard when I was younger, and when I was younger I had two acres to mow, with a push mower! Now I have a normal size yard with it being about the size of two of my houses and I love my yard I love mowing it I love playing in my flower beds I love making my home look like a home. Home ain't a home without a yard!

[@mikecain6947]

Water your lawn so the grass grows faster and then you can cut the lawn. Very curious thing to do .

[@b_uppy]

Same with fertilizer...

[@mikecain6947]

@@b_uppy good point

[@diane520]

Many cities forbid dandelions, they also have a height limit that keep home owners from having grasses or wild flowers that grow tall stems for pollination and seed heads.Many grass varieties or plants that would feed birds and encourage bees and other pollinators have to be cut before they go to seed. And pesticides poison the animals and our ground water. There is the need for fire control in dry conditions, but plant height isn't the best way to do it.

[@michaelmoore7975]

I got Briggs & Stratton to take care of my lawn. Does a fantastic job and uses no gas and with zero effort on my part. Briggs is a Boer and Stratton is an Alpine....... goats, that is.

[@richardtravalini6731]

I previously lived in South Central Texas during the worst 5 year drought in 100 years. And yet, even with water being scarce and very expensive, many people insisted on have golf course type lawns. On the other hand, I let mine go dormant and turn a beautiful shade of tan. I told my critics, that when God was ready, he would make it green again. Who am I to argue with God.

[@truthsRsung]

Except the folks who were there, before that land was developed, saw what God or an arid climate provided naturally, and said they knew better. God, or weather patterns, support thirsty vegetation in the British Isles. Did God or the Brits first badmouth the dandelion with the term "Weed"??? I'd like to pupose a campaign to clear dandelion's soiled name. We should be so lucky to know a hearty, edible, flowering species that is FUN to plant! There is another book, The Farmer's Almanac, that guides intelligent folks on what to plant when and where so it may grow without water being delivered, so I guess the only ones that use it are hedge fund managers.

[@jimmym3352]

I live in Las Vegas. God is increasingly telling everyone where I live to go brown. Yet my next door neighbor still has a lawn.

[@truthsRsung]

@@jimmym3352 ...If you like green, why not grow something you can eat with that water?

[@kaned5543]

As a Californian, we are definitely trying to push for fewer lawns because it's such a huge waste of water - lots of people are shifting towards drought friendly gardens instead.

[@BrilliantDesignOnline]

Dad: "Get out there and mow the lawn"

[@tobyeperkins5301]

I love the creativity of your introductions! I’ve always enjoyed your history lessons, but I wait with anticipation to see how the segment will be started! Thanks!

[@goodun2974]

This THG episode mentioned bocce, tennis, golf, badminton, and croquet, but didn't mention *horseshoes*, nor that quintessential lawn game of my youth: Jarts! 😁 (PS, A history of shodding horse's feet seems to be called for; who was the first person or the earliest civilization/culture that decided to drive nails into horses hooves and put metal rings on their feet? Did they strap some kind of other foot gear on horses before they started using metal horseshoes?).

[@raedwulf61]

I spent the first 5 decades of my life in Levittown, Long Island. Now I live in a mid-west apartment. I miss my lawn.

[@slartybartfast6868]

Awesome. I lived in Chandler AZ, and we had a good sized lawn. But with the cost of water in that area, it was too expensive to keep. So we took it all out and put in Small pebbles. They looked good and you didnt have to water them.

[@DukeCannon]

My Lawncare skills as a kid..... History that Needs to be Forgotten.

[@Alarix246]

The Czech Republic is quite a small country. One has a tendency to generalize the habits of inhabitants of every country. We used to tend our lawn by the electric lawnmower in 1970s, living in Northern Moravia. But when I visited my relatives in South Moravia, I was very surprised that they and their neighbors in suburbia of one regional city turned every inch of their front garden (frankly, I didn't have time back then for a back garden) into a vineyard. There was no room for grass - every square foot had its vine plant on wire. What blows my mind is, how do these habits travel: every neighbor had it like this, and the same was true for next village in every direction. How does it happen that suddenly some next village stops having this passion for vinery? Except for the local weather conditions of course.

[@phasm42]

I'm seeding my lawn with native grasses and wildflowers. Gonna wild it up.

[@wh8378]

My family still won’t let me live down the time I was supposed to cut the grass for the first time after a rather snowy winter and wet spring. Not matter how I tried, the gas mower would not start. I checked the gas tank and it was full of the usual faint red fluid and I told my dad the mower was broken. He came out to check the mower and asked the usual questions dads always do when trying to fix a problem, and after 10 futile minutes of trying to start it he began to check over the mower himself. When he looked into the gas tank to see if there was any gas he discovered that it was full of rusty water from sitting outside all winter and spring. After removing all the water and refilling it with real gasoline it fired right up on the second pull. To this day (I’m 66 years old) my younger brother always calls me in the spring to tell me to give tank on my mower a “sniff” test before I use it for the first time every season.

[@keitholding8541]

The original meaning of 'lawn' as 'a glade or opening in the woods' continues to be used in the name of Balmer Lawn in the New Forest in southern England, and other open spaces in this forest are referred to as 'lawns'. Is this usage still in existence elsewhere?

[@CherryBoyReloaded]

Great Lawn of Central Park NYC + Oak Lawn Park Dallas - with Forest Lawn Golf Course Georgia + Forest Lawn Cemeteries Hollywood playing on the original meaning...

[@42cerberus]

The earliest patent for a lawnmower was taken out by Alexander Shanks of Arbroath, Scotland, in 1806. He had started his business two years earlier.

[@mikecain6947]

Land was wealth and if you planted grass and not edibles on your land everyone could see that you were rich so the poorer people started to have lawns also as a status symbol. It is possible to have lawns that are planted with indigenous plants that are eco friendly.

[@lairdcummings9092]

Xerescaping. Yes, and California needs to *seriously* needs to get into it.

[@jangamaster8677]

Americans don’t seem to care about the environment. They care more for their status symbols.

[@lairdcummings9092]

@@jangamaster8677 that's hardly unique to America. The big difference, as much as there is one, is higher levels of general affluence allows for greater impact.

[@dk3062]

It's also possible that it's esthetically pleasing and a fairly cheap way to make your property look good. Not to mention the pleasure it brings to care for it. It's not always about greed and destruction. Sheesh

[@tombombadil3185]

@@dk3062 When someone cares more for how their property looks to the casual person driving by than how it looks from their front door it's vanity. It's like makeup on a hog.

[@felixguilbeault6329]

I am one of those obsessive types. My lawn and garden suck up way more time and money than anyone could possibly justify. But it keeps me happy, so there!

[@EvanMoon]

I really enjoy watching someone else my lawn while I’m inside an air-conditioned room with no bugs.

[@bcase5328]

In common "Lawns" were also used to sun dry washed linen. That is why certain plants were to be excluded. Those plant might stain the linen.

[@pamelamays4186]

Frankenstein's Monster is on the loose on the History Shelf!😱😱😱😱 I still remember the smell of the fertilizer my Dad used on our front lawn. Interestingly, he didn't put that much effort into the back lawn. When I was a kid, it was common practice for teenage boys to "borrow" the motors from their dads' lawn mowers to power their DIY street go carts🏎️🏎️🏎️🏎️

[@grene1955]

I (67m) spent about five hours today mowing my lawn, pulling weeds and running a line trimmer at the fences. It was great exercise, and when I look at my yard, I feel a sense of satisfaction on how it looks and the work out I got taking care of it. I wouldn't want to have to do it every day, but once a week or so I enjoy it!

[@1pcfred]

I could work on my yard every day and it'd still look like crap. So once in a while I just mow all the weeds to the same height.

[@canadio]

Thank You history Guy! Could you please do a segment on the pre-history of Lawns: How Dandelions were essential. At a point in history, Dandelions made up to almost half of the of the populations' caloric intake. Weed-less lawns were thus, showing off wealth. They dedicated lawns to grass, instead of for food.

[@paulgibbons887]

Cut grass surrounding the house makes it difficult for bugs, mice & snakes to enter your house without being seen and eaten by predators.

[@kdaltex]

True. Good for bird control at airports too. 6"-12" being the ideal height

[@TheTeufelhunden68]

I would have been happy for the snakes.

[@TessHKM]

There are lots of grass alternatives that provide the same benefit but don't require the intensive care and water waste that lawn grass does.

[@rachelk4805]

@@TheTeufelhunden68 Maybe it depends on where you live and the kind of snakes that get in. Most people don't want venomous snakes in their home.

[@ken125y]

@@rachelk4805 Most people don't want **ANY** snakes in or near their home. Fixed that for you.

[@leehuff2330]

Ironically I put about the least effort into my lawn, yet it tends to be just about the nicest one in my neighborhood. Except for the initial surge, I discharge the cuttings and leave them to decompose on the soil and I let the dandelions and clover grow. Additionally, I'm the only one left who still uses an old two-cycle Lawn-Boy and my grass is a noticably darker and richer shade of green.

[@Captain-ln3vh]

I don’t care what the subject is, History Guy makes the subject matter interesting and always informative.

[@sideshowbob]

One interesting story that borders on "Conspiracy Theory" is that prior to the 1950's, going back centuries, Clover was considered a Desirable part of every lawn, as it is a nitrogen fixer (adds nitrogen to the soil), & also provides pollen for honey bees. In the mid 1950's, the chemical industry, seeing the growth of lawn care as a marketable industry, with fertilizers, herbicides, & pesticides a significant income generator, decided to Demonize clover as a part of lawns. Thus, lawns would be deprived of their fixated nitrogen, which could be replaced by chemical fertilizers. Plus, Clover was now on the list of "weeds" to be eliminated with herbicides. Lawn care "pamphlets" were provided Gratis to hardware stores across America by the chemical companies with this "Guidance". Today, clover is indeed considered a "pest" / "weed" pretty universally, & eradicated enthusiastically.

[@theplaguedoctor1862]

All my neighbors have perfect lawns except me I like the little purple violets and this year I decided to find white yellow and mixed colored violets and sprinkle the seeds all over my lawn. I've often wondered when did we start considering pretty wildflowers as weeds and something to dump chemicals on. And we wonder why the bees are dying out.

[@MrTaxiRob]

@@theplaguedoctor1862 wildflower lawns are soo much more fun to look at, but keeping a patch of grass to walk on feels nice on your feet.

[@robertporterfield2023]

It was common in areas of the south to maintain the area around farm houses free of grass and weeds. This left a nice flat space of compacted dirt which the housewife swept daily to ride it of leaves and other debris. No mowing required.

[@goodun2974]

That technique probably works better down South where the soil often has an extremely high clay content. On the other hand that clay got messy and slippery when it rained.

[@jackiebrand3352]

When we first bought our home in 1990 (California) the entire yard was lush green grass. Over the years I have replaced 90% of it with decorative rocks, native plants and garden boxes. I still have a small bit of grass in the front yard. With all the brown hills, I do like to see a bit of green. I may have to give up this little patch as well due to a lack of water. I have never hired someone to take care of our yard work, it is great exercise and calms my mind.

[@craigbenz4835]

I would pave my yard here in Michigan to avoid mowing it, except that I know that not even that would work. I've seen roads with grass growing up through the cracks in the pavement.

[@gyrene_asea4133]

All you said is eminently sensible. My spouse always took pleasure in in tending the garden plots, flower pots, and varied shrubbery around our homes over the years, yet she NEVER cared about the lawns, only whether they looked okay after I cut and raked them. We got rid of the front lawn after 15 years. At 18 years re-sodded the rear lawn, and at 24 years sold the damn house and bought a new home with a backyard pool with accents of plastic grass. Through our view fence we enjoy the sight of 1.5 acres of lawn watered, mowed, and otherwise tended by others. Happy Days. : )

[@jackobite4346]

Covid came and we (wife and I) just had more time. we took to gardening and have had a few years now of flowers and a nice back garden where we sit when it isnt raining :)

[@veramae4098]

I inherited the family farm house. Grandfather built it in the country. The lawn is just a hay field that's been mown for 80 year. I don't worry about it.

[@dannyc7839]

The concept of lawns id really a strange thing all together

[@loke6664]

This is super interesting but the drawback is that it reminds me that my lawn has started to grow and I need to do my first lawn moving of the year this weekend. It is just small enough for me to not waste tons of money on one of those movers you sit on but big enough to be a pain to move. We had kinda a cold spring this year luckily, last year I had to start in April. The lazy part of me want to remove it, but it do look really nice so I guess it will stay.

[@PlanetEarth3141]

Loke, sit on the porch and watch your newly bought electric lawn mower cut the lawn after mapping out the layout. Drink some cold ice tea and smile and laugh as it figures things out. It'll finish and park itself. To recharge, awaiting you next command to do it again, silently, no gas, no oil, no pollution, no fuss.

[@loke6664]

@@PlanetEarth3141 I have considered that and the only reason I haven't bought one is that it is good exercise to move the lawn every other week and I can't skip it because I feel lazy unlike going to the gym or similar. If I buy a bot mover I will sit with a drink and watch it work which is super nice but not very healthy. I might do it anyways if I feel exceedingly lazy this summer. It would murder some wildflowers I cut around (my garden is full of butterflies and bumble bees) when I do it by hand and July and August is often so hot the grass wont grow during it anyways. There is the environmental point. My lawn mover uses gas which is bad but saves the wildflowers. A bot mover takes resources to make and generally don't last as long as a regular one which I already own... So there are certainly some up sides but there are some drawbacks as well. Some of the wildflowers are not super common anymore and butterflies are not doing great in Europe nowadays. I do add more flowers they enjoy in my flower beds every year (I have lived here for 5 years but there is a lot to do to get the garden as nice as I want it to be, it will likely take me 5 more years. So maybe?

[@PlanetEarth3141]

@@loke6664 in my first comment to you I spelled your name correctly but autocorrect, or autocrap, change it and I missed that change. Yes, you are correct, pros and cons. For example, a thousand ways to get excercise. And there are options to auto mowing too. I think some come with advanced enough geo zones features that you can effectively subtract out regions of your lawn where you don't want them to go or make mistakes. That frees you to resume exercise by triming small remaining areas as you think best. Alternatively you could transplant your flowers elsewhere to other areas and possible regular shapes off limit to your mower. You could also elevate plants to pots, barrels, etc to keep the mower away from them and keep supporting butterflies and bees and humming birds. You sound wise and smart to me. Perhaps you let the auto mower do the bulk work while you are thus more free to do the greater expanding part of gardening and beautification which pleases you more. It's been fun talking to you. Too bad I'm not your neighbor because I'd appease my curiosity to see what happens. 🤔😁

[@baldeagle5297]

I've had to mow twice already, and I have to mow deep into the Fall season. One of the travails of living in the sunny south.

[@PlanetEarth3141]

@@baldeagle5297 Perhaps one day you'll buy a Tesla robot, tell it to mow the lawn and watch as it tracks into your house mowed grass blades. I'd just buy an auto mower and let it stay recharged in the shed or garage. But I don't have a lawn, so I'm good; no chore, noise, pollution, costs, water usage, gas, oil, maintenance, etc.

[@poughkeepsieblue]

The fact that we grow more lawns, than we do food... and we remain the world's "bread basket"... blows my mind.

[@Sithdude78]

I dont know while it's not my favorite indo enjoy a nice summer day with a fresh cut lawn, the chore may not be the most enjoyable but the end product is.

[@dirus3142]

Hank Hill loved taking care of his lawn.

[@brownbenplumm9027]

Anyone who would rather shovel snow than mow the lawn has never experienced a real blizzard

[@bazza945]

My late mother had a "thing" against moss, white daisies and yellow dandelion flowers in our front lawn. However, I liked them and told her, "If I mow the lawn, those daisies will be up again the very next day".

[@9ZERO6]

In my neck of the woods, there are big (at least 1/2 acre) beautiful and well maintained lawns everywhere, with nobody using them for anything at all. Strange.

[@navret1707]

Definition of “lawn” - something designed to ruin your Saturday afternoons.

[@ithacacomments4811]

My friends allowed their 12 year old daughter to use their riding mower to cut their huge lawn. Her 8 year old sister ran up to her when the mower was engaged. The 8 year old slipped and her leg went under the mower deck. Her left leg was nearly severed. She had a good surgeon and recovery. Mowers are frightening.

[@derekfelska4001]

I am certainly in the 1-in-5 Americans that absolutely loathes mowing the lawn. Yet at the same time, since I became a homeowner a few years ago I feel I have to maintain it mostly to not catch flak from my neighbors. Yes, when its done its nice to look at. However, I also lament when I can tell from day to day that the lawn has grown because I think of the chore I loathe so much. Great video as always!

[@VarnerRuth]

I absolutely love the opening of your video. Very clever.

[@ltdc426]

Water, fertilize, cut, repeat, ALL FREAKING SUMMER is the very definition of insanity.

[@ubergeek1968]

I, for one, enjoy doing the yard work. It is something that I find makes me smile.

[@martinoamello3017]

True story... Many years ago my parents bought a new house and when the turf company came to lay sod the forman of the crew laying the sod kept yelling at the workers.. "Green side up dummies!"

[@pdooley730]

Love seeing the Submarine Dolphins in the back ground! That could be a cool history video!

[@PlanetMojo]

Short grass keeps away many of the insects and critters that are harmful to humans (ticks hate short grass as do snakes), and short grass is a buffer zone for fire.

[@glbaker5595]

I wonder how many people have started there working careers at the age of 12 or so of mowing lawns I know I did

[@be6715]

Funny, I think of mowing the lawn today as having some health benefits, as I can get a fair number of steps in, even on my suburban lawn, front and back. I know all that gas used is not good for the environment, but I have to say, I generally enjoy cutting my lawn. Great episode as always!

[@be6715]

@vyhozshu I am a horticulturist, so I do lots and lots of gardening, thank you.

[@TheEricZ]

I remember from another video that someone ended up planting strawberries amongst the grass planted at Versailles

[@joezephyr]

Excellent video on tyres thank you!

[@badkittynomilktonight3334]

I grew up mowing lawns, first for my grandparents, then our house, then my own. Grew to absolutely hate lawns. Our current house the soil was terrible for grass, nothing we did would get the grass to grow without daily watering, not great in a drought ridden area. So we said enough is enough. The rear yard got pavers, and the front got Mediterranean and native xeriscape plantings. Now its one of the most impressive yards on the street and I rarely have to water it and only really weed it once or twice a year. This was years before the city began to pay homeowners to pull out their lawns.

[@JFG95]

I really enjoyed the animation leading to the The History Guy intro.

[@jordansmith4040]

These introductions are getting elaborate.

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

I use a program called Viddyoze. I simply drop the logo into a template.

[@stevekunz6573]

Soul crushing time suck, the perfect description. Thanks for sharing.

[@hannahbrown2728]

Growing up I hated the chore, then I spent a lot of time in the southwest us and didnt have the chore. And now I wish I had a lawn, not for that good ole fine fescue, but for a food and herb garden instead.

[@anotherbutt4chair56]

Just finished mowing my lawn with my new lawnmower, there is some pride and satisfaction in keeping a well maintained lawn.

[@climatedeceptionnetwork4122]

Thanks. I wanted to know. Expertly delivered!

[@garryandjanepannell8594]

Our lawn is full of clover that smells wonderful right now!

[@maxcorey8144]

Remember too, that if you do not mow a lawn area around your house and buildings, the wilderness will encroach within a year or two. Give it ten years and trees will be growing through your buildings. Lawns help keep it at bay.

[@bikerchrisukk]

You continue to create episodes of interest, well done you sir.