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 neccesary 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.

See also: Organic lawn management, Lawn mower, Tree lawn, No dig gardening