Lawn: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

A typical lawn

A lawn is a cultivated, mowed field planted with grass and sometimes clover and other plants. Lawns are typically planted near homes, often as part of gardens. The purpose of a lawn is to create a comfortable space upon which games can be played, picnics held, and any other social events happen. Typical middle-class homes in North America and the United Kingdom commonly have lawns surrounded by a hedge or fence.

Lawns are also a common feature of public parks and the playing surface for most outdoor sports including golf, tennis, football, soccer, bowling, and others. In sports venues, the term lawn is usually replaced by turf or green.

Homeowners wishing a more lush and green lawn sometimes attempt to "roll the lawn," a process that sadly tends to have the opposite effect. Rolling a lawn simply compacts the soil by pushing weights around the lawn area, either mechanically with a lawn roller or by hand. This has the combined effect of removing air pockets necessary for aeration, preventing water from seeping into the soil, and generally prohibits external nutrients from reaching the roots- overall resulting in an unhealthy lawn. Rolling a lawn can help even a lawn when soil is very loose. A better alternative is to use a core aerator to improve lawn health. On the other hand, some choose to over sand their lawn, which can result in a more even growth of grass.

Lawns are often criticized by environmentalists for several reasons:

• Many lawns tend to be composed of a single species of plant which reduces biodiversity, especially if the lawn covers a large area.

• Many lawns are cared for using pesticides and other chemicals.

• Lawns are usually composed primarily of non-native plants which sometimes push local plants toward extinction.

• Maintaining a green lawn often requires large amounts of water. The use of such large amounts on plants that are often unsuited for their environment puts a strain on water supplies in many areas, requiring larger more environmentally invasive water supply systems.

However, using ecological techniques, the impact of lawns can sometimes be reduced. Such methods include the use of local grasses, using only organic fertilizers, and introducing a variety of plants to the lawn.