Why do Americans care so much about their lawn?

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. It signifies that you care about belonging and want others to see that you are like them.

How much do Americans spend on lawns each year?

MONEY: Per acre, it costs more to maintain a lawn than it does to grow corn, rice or sugarcane. More than 40 billion dollars are spent on the lawn in North American each year – more than the entire continent gave in foreign aid in 2005.

Why did people start mowing their lawns?

Closely shorn grass lawns first emerged in 17th century England at the homes of large, wealthy landowners. Before lawnmowers, only the rich could afford to hire the many hands needed to scythe and weed the grass, so a lawn was a mark of wealth and status.

How much money does the average American spend on lawn care?

The statistic depicts the average spend per household on lawn care and gardening activities in the United States from 2009 to 2017. In 2017, the average spend per household amounted to 503 U.S. dollars.

Are lawns wasteful?

Fertilizer and Chemicals – An awful lot of fertilizer and chemicals get used to keep lawns looking lush and green. The US EPA states that on average, Americans buy 70 million pounds of fertilizer per year. According to Bloomberg News, at least 6 billion dollars per year is spent on lawns.

What do lawns symbolize?

The purpose of the lawn must be largely symbolic because we rarely use them as a social space. “The lawn symbolizes that continuity.” And yet, Pollan explains, despite the fact that lawns are the largest irrigated crop in the country, Americans tend to avoid using them.

How many hours a year does the average American spend on gardening?

The average American spends about 70 hours a year on lawn and garden care, according to the American Time Use Survey.

How many homes have grass lawns in the United States?

Approximately 80\% of all homes in the United States have grass lawns. This has resulted in a $40 billion per year industry, with American grass lawns using more water than is used to grow all the wheat and corn in the United States.

How much time does the average American spend mowing the lawn?

The average American spends about 70 hours a year on lawn and garden care, according to the American Time Use Survey. Considering that this is an average figure that also includes people who don’t spend any time mowing, the number for people who actually have a lawn, and actually mow it, is going to be considerably higher than that.

Why is the state of your lawn important to you?

The state of a homeowner’s lawn is important in relation to their status within the community and to the status of the community at large. Lawns connect neighbors and neighborhoods; they’re viewed as an indicator of socio-economic character, which translates into property- and resale values.