Lawns

 

Lawns in the present sense of the word have been around since medieval times but it is only later when the Tudors and Elizabethans encompassed the concept of open grass spaces. These were not however the lawns that we associate with present day lawns.  Lawns in these times consisted of grasses and meadow plants and looked very different to a modern short cut lawn.

The early 1600's was the time that the modern day lawn has directly evolved from.  Owning land was, as still is a sign of wealth. The more land that was devoted to 'frivoulous' gardens rather than growing cash crops, the wealthy it was seen you were. This attitude was taken up by the French to the extreme lengths when creating massive park gardens, removing buildings and at times whole villages to ensure that vistas were not interrupted.

Fashions change however and the great adventuring and plant hunting Victorians brough back both plants and garden ideas from around the globe. Many influences were gained from Italy and France and lawns were soon shrinking.

Lawns were incredibly intensive of both time and labour until the lawn mower was born. They were hand cut or grazed by animals which introduced the idea of the Ha ha into the landscape garden.  Modern style, commercial mowers were not widely available until the late 1800's after initial inventions were created in the 1830's.

Today, looking after areas of grass can be a very important.  Many colleges offer degree courses in turf management to enable sports surfaces like golf courses and football fields to be kept in tip top condition. Seed mixes, climate and usage are all variable factors for grass researchers to take into account when developing new turf.

"I think turf is overdone in England."
Mrs. C. W. Earle (1836-1925) Pot-Pourri from a Surrey Garden