Lawns aren’t natural. Why do so many Americans have them?

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Grass lawns are so ubiquitous in the US you would assume that they're the most natural and obvious choice for what to put in our yards. But turf grass is not only not native to the US, but it takes a lot of time, money, and resources to maintain.

Today, some cities are offering "cash for grass" programs and giving residents as much as $25,000 to replace their turf grass lawns with more environmentally sustainable options.

But some people still like green grass lawns and enjoy maintaining them, so what should they do? In this video we go through the multitude of options that yard owners have and talk to experts to see what they have to say.

Sources and further reading:

Lawn People: How Grasses, Weeds, and Chemicals Make Us Who We Are by Paul Robbins

The Lawn: A History of an American Obsession by Virginia Scott Jenkins

The American Lawn: Surface of Everyday Life by Georges Teyssot

Civilizing American Cities by Frederick Law Olmsted

Suburban Nation: The Rise of Sprawl and the Decline of the American Dream by Andres Duany et al.

American Green: The Obsessive Quest for the Perfect Lawn by Ted Steinberg

Scotts Lawns: Your Guide to a Beautiful Yard by Nick Christians & Ashton Ritchie

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