Were you aware that an estimated 80 percent of homes in the United States feature grass lawns? Whether you live in the cooler, rainy climate of the Pacific Northwest or the hotter, more humid climate of the Southeast, you probably have a lawn to take care of. At Bio Green of Orlando, we provide the safest and most effective lawn care services for your lawn so that you can have the most beautiful lawn without putting in hours of hard work. Have you ever wondered how lawns became so popular in the first place? Let’s explore the history of lawns:
The Origins of Lawns
The word lawn originates from the Middle English word launde, which translates to a “glade or opening in the woods.” A launde also referred to village common areas in which farmers grazed their livestock. The earliest lawns that we know of were actually the grasslands surrounding medieval castles located in France and Great Britain. The areas surrounding castles needed to be cleared so that soldiers could protect their castles from any unwanted visitors. Originally, chamomile and thyme were cultivated in the areas surrounding castles in the 16th century.
Grass Lawns
By end of the 17th century, wealthy families began cultivating grass lawns on their estates and they kept the grass cut short. One of the most famous examples of grass lawns at the time is the “green carpet” of the Versailles gardens in France. Hundreds of years before the invention of a lawn mower, maintaining grass lawns was quite an undertaking. Wealthy families sometimes used farm animals to graze the property and keep the grass short, but these animals left unsightly droppings. The cleaner alternative was to hire men to clear the grass with scythes, which was time-consuming and difficult work.
The Invention Of The Lawnmower
One of the great inventions to some out of the Industrial Revolution was Edwin Budding’s lawnmower. By the late 1800s, the lawnmower became quite popular, and trimmed grass lawns became more accessible than before.
Frederick Law Olmstead
Often referred to as the “father of American landscape design,” Frederick Lawn Olmstead designed the famed Central Park in New York City. Olmstead also designed suburbs in which each house featured a small lawn. At the time, many people were moving away from the industrialized cities and desired a greener space surrounding their homes.
Abraham Levitt
Between 1948 and 1952, Abraham Levitt created Levittown, one of the first affordable suburban developments in Long Island, New York. The Levittown suburbs included lawns already in place for each home before the dwellers even moved in. The Levitts also built suburbs in Puerto Rico, Cape Cod, Pennsylvania, and New York, and the popularity of lawns soared.
Pretty interesting, right? You probably had no idea that the origins of your front lawn came from European castles. However, the Florida climate differs greatly than the colder climate of France and Great Britain. The more tropical climate of Florida means that you have to take care of your lawn year-round. Bio Green of Orlando uses natural fertilizers and natural pest control products to take of your lawn without compromising your family’s health of harming the environment. Contact Bio Green today for a free lawn evaluation today.