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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 arid 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. In highly arid areas, some people are shifting to stone gardens.
See also
- Organic lawn managementOrganic lawn management is the practice of establishing and caring for a garden lawn without the use of chemical inputs such as pesticides or artificial fertilisers. Overview The garden lawn is a place where we can walk, play and relax, and is especially
- Lawn mowerA lawn mower (often spelled as one word lawnmower is a machine (electric or mechnical) used to cut grass to an even length. It was invented in Britain in 1830 by Edwin Beard Budding, primarily to cut the lawn on sports pitches and expansive gardens. Since
- Tree lawnA tree lawn is a small area, often planted with trees and grass, between a street and the sidewalk of that street. Tree lawns are most often found in suburbs. Tree lawns and sidewalks are public property; however, upkeep of a tree lawn and sidewalk adjoin
- No dig gardening
GardeningFor the chosen plaintext attack used by the British during World War II, see gardening (cryptanalysis). Gardening is an activity—the art and craft of growing plants—most often taking place in or about one's residence, in a space referred to as the garden.
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