Study: 94% of Americans Care About How Their Lawn Looks, But Are They Maintaining It Correctly?

Lawns are a quintessential part of American homeownership but are a constant work in progress for many people. Even with the best intentions, lawn care can be challenging, especially if you’re unsure why your lawn lacks lushness (or why your neighbors seem to have all the luck). 

We surveyed 1,250 individuals—25 people from every U.S. state—to gain insight into how Americans view their lawns, their lawn maintenance routines, and what outdoor improvements they plan to execute in 2023. 

How Do Americans Feel About Their Lawn?

Nearly 94% of survey participants said they care about how their lawn looks and about 6% reported not caring about their lawn’s appearance. Still, it’s easy to be one’s own harshest critic: Only 49% of Americans claim their grass is greener than their neighbors’ yard, while a slight majority believe the grass is greener on the other side of the fence.

As for feelings about keeping up with lawn care, answers varied across the board. At 21%, most respondents found green grass lawn care enjoyable, while around 18% found it rewarding. Adding to the positive feelings of lawn labor, around 22% of survey respondents found it easy or fun. On the contrary, a combined 39% of survey participants found lawn maintenance time-consuming, stressful, expensive, or annoying.

Here's How Americans Maintain Their Lawns

The best time to water grass is before 10 a.m. to soak up the afternoon sun and early in the evening until 6 p.m. Still, different types of grass have varying needs for fertilization, sunlight, and more, so it’s important to be familiar with your yard’s variety. 62% of survey respondents couldn’t answer the question, “What kind of grass do I have?” which could explain why many people felt their grass could be greener. That’s why it’s essential to identify and research your grass type to ensure you can provide for its watering, fertilizing, and mowing needs. 

49% of survey respondents needed additional lawn maintenance this past year due to weather changes like drought, extreme heat, or cold. For survey respondents who opted for professional lawn care, around 55% spent more than $500 last year, which is on par with the annual average lawn mowing cost for most homes. 

Speaking of lawn maintenance tasks, 76% of survey respondents reported that their lawn is mowed at least every other week, while 39% of participants water their lawn once per month or less. 

What Types of Outdoor Improvements are Americans Planning for 2023?

Gardening is the overwhelming winner of our survey respondents’ 2023 plans for their outdoor space. Most participants from 38 states said they plan to add a garden feature this year, while the most popular project plan in eight states is to build raised garden beds. Only survey participants from four states—Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming—said they were preparing to cover the sod cost for starting a new lawn.

Surprise? 73% of Americans Maintain Their Lawn For Their Pets

Why maintain a soft, healthy lawn? 73% of surveyed homeowners said they take on more lawn maintenance to roll out the green carpet for their prized pets. 

If you’re wondering what type of grass you have and whether it’s the best fit for your furry friend, look no further. Here are the top contenders for the best grass for dogs:

• Kentucky bluegrass

• Fescues

• Perennial ryegrass

• Zoysia

• Bermuda grass

• Centipede grass

• Bahia grass