What I found was that lawns extend far back in American history. Former presidents George Washington and Thomas Jefferson had lawns, but these were not perfect greenswards. It turns out that the ideal of perfect turf – a weed-free, supergreen monoculture – is a recent phenomenon.
The ideal of perfect turf – a weed-free, supergreen monoculture – is a relatively recent phenomenon. Here's why more and more Americans are painting their lawns.