No, lawns weren't invented by your dad to fortify your character — though plenty of Denver teens have stormed the mower for that very reason. Still, the bright-green, perfectly trimmed turf in places like Highlands Ranch or Lakewood isn't nearly as natural as it looks.

That carefully bred grass (ideally cut between 2.5 and 3 inches) is propped up by a huge industry of seed, fertilizer, equipment, and water. It all traces back to a status symbol: a yard so lush it proves you don't need to grow food on it. And more Denver homeowners are deciding they're done paying for it — which is why lawn removal is where a lot of Denver yard projects start now.

A Brief History of the Lawn

17th–18th centuries: Lawns were exclusive to wealthy European landowners.
1870s: U.S. suburbs emerged, and lawns became a symbol of American prosperity — helped along by innovations like push mowers and, later, sprinklers and glossy ads.
1907: O.M. Scott & Sons began selling grass seed by mail, helping lawns go mainstream.
1920s: Turfgrass research took off, and bred lawn grasses found their way into suburban yards.
1928: Scott's began advertising lawn products in popular magazines, aiming squarely at homeowners.
1940s: The GI Bill enabled many returning veterans to own homes — and adopt yard science in full force.

Today, lawns cover roughly 128,000 square kilometers of the U.S. — about 32 million acres. NASA-funded research by Cristina Milesi estimated there are three times more acres of lawn than irrigated corn, making turf the country's largest irrigated "crop" by area.

Lawns in Denver: A Water-Guzzling Reality

In Denver, about half of single-family residential water use is outdoors, according to Denver Water — most of it on lawns.
Nationwide, the EPA says outdoor use accounts for more than 30 percent of household water use on average, and as much as 60 percent in arid regions.
This year, Denver Water went further than ever: under its 2026 Stage 1 drought rules, watering grass is prohibited starting October 1, 2026.

Why the Denver Area Needs a New Approach

Colorado is already moving away from decorative lawn in shared and public spaces. Under SB24-005, since January 1, 2026, local governments can't allow new nonfunctional turf, artificial turf, or invasive plants on commercial, institutional, and industrial property, HOA common areas, street rights-of-way, parking lots, and medians. A 2025 follow-up, HB25-1113, extends those limits to new multifamily developments of more than 12 units. Private backyards aren't covered — that choice is still yours.

Rebates for water-efficient landscapes come and go. Denver Water's 2026 turf-removal discounts are fully allocated; our rebates guide tracks what's open, and it's worth watching Denver Water for the 2027 program.

This isn't only happening in policy. Walk a few Denver blocks and you can see it — the native plantings coming back are why Denver is starting to look like Denver again.

Water-Wise Alternatives That Make Sense

Xeriscaping — landscaping tailored to dry climates — can save up to 60 percent of outdoor irrigation with proper design, according to Resource Central. For what a conversion costs, see our xeriscape cost guide.
Entomologist Doug Tallamy's Homegrown National Park project asks homeowners to cut their lawn area in half and replace it with native plants — which would add up to about 20 million acres of habitat, about nine times the size of Yellowstone.

How Xeris Helps Denver Yards Move On From the Lawn

At Xeris Landscaping, we help Denver homeowners take out the lawn and replace it with functional, sustainable landscapes that thrive in our climate — native pollinator gardens, low-water turf alternatives, or full xeriscaped yards with native stone and mulch.

Ready to Build a Yard That Belongs Here?

Xeris builds xeriscape landscapes across Denver and the surrounding metro that look like Colorado — native plants, low water, designed for the Front Range. Request an estimate and let's talk about your yard.

The History of the American Lawn—and Why Denver is Ready for a Greener Future