The History of the American Lawn—and Why Denver Is Ready for a Greener Future
No, lawns weren’t erected by your dad to fortify your character—though many Denver teens have stormed the mower for that very reason. Still, your bright-green, perfectly trimmed turf in places like Highlands Ranch or Lakewood isn’t nearly as natural as it looks.
Why? Because maintaining that genetically engineered grass (ideally cut between 2.5–3 inches) has become a $153 billion industry and employs over a million people. It all traces back to a suburban status symbol: a yard so lush, it proves you don’t need to grow food on it.
A Brief History of the Lawn
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17th–18th centuries: Lawns were exclusive to wealthy European landowners.
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1870s: U.S. suburbs emerged, and lawns became a symbol of American prosperity—bolstered by innovations like push mowers, sprinkler systems, and glossy ads.
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1907: O.M. Scott & Sons (now Scotts Miracle-Gro) began selling grass seed by mail, helping lawns become mainstream .
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1930: Scotts hit $1 million in sales with the first grass fertilizer .
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1920s: USDA and the USGA bred resilient turf grasses that found their way into suburban yards.
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1940s: The GI Bill enabled many returning veterans to own homes—and adopt yard science in full force.
Today, U.S. lawns cover up to 40 million acres, rivaling—or exceeding—irrigated crop area.
Lawns in Denver: A Water-Guzzling Reality
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In Denver, lawn irrigation uses 50% of single-family home water—that’s nearly a quarter of all water sold by Denver Water.
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Nationwide, outdoor use accounts for 30% of daily water consumption, most of it for lawns.
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On average, millennials spend $701/month on lawn care, while boomers spend $475.
Why Denver-area Needs a New Approach
Marching deeper into drought risks, Colorado is limiting turf in new developments—like banning cool-season grasses for golf courses and offering rebates for water-efficient landscapes.
Water-Wise Alternatives That Make Sense
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Xeriscaping—landscaping tailored to dry climates—can cut water usage by 50–75%.
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If half the lawns in the U.S. were replaced with native plants, it would create a “homegrown national park” of 20 million acres, more than nine times the size of Yellowstone.
Why Xeris Landscaping Leads Denver Toward Sustainable Yards
At Xeris Landscaping, we help Transition Denver lawns into functional, sustainable landscapes that thrive in our climate—whether it’s native pollinator gardens, low-water turf alternatives, or full xeriscaped yards with native stones and mulches.
📞 Schedule a Free Consultation Today
Ready to bring your xeriscape vision to life?
Contact Xeris Landscaping for expert design and installation using the best native plants for Colorado. Text or call us at (303) 800-2584.