Who knew? It certainly took me over a decade to realise. There is a difference between American, UK and French lawns. Yup, lawns. Quite a few differences really. And those differences actually surprised me (once I noticed).
And it’s not just lawns. It’s many other green grassy spaces too, it turns out.
A Little Lawn History
First and foremost, its important we define – what is a lawn? Originally it denoted an open space between woods. Then it morphed, through time, to become the ground of a house or park that is covered in grass and mowed. Interestingly, definitions clarify that it is mowed regularly. Though how regularly is not clear.
The word Lawn, originates from Launde which referred to that grassy area within a woodland, a glade if you will. It then goes on to refer to the area, usually in the centre of a village that was for livestock to graze on. It is not yet the area around a house, at this time, as this land was too prized for vegetable growing and feeding oneself. The word Launde morphs into Lawn as it becomes more manicured.
Sports then gets involved. First with the game of Boules, or Petanque, an ancient game that eventually in the 12th century UK requires a grassy field to play on, then known as a bowling green. Golf in Scotland also requires a managed grassy area, but that’s a course. Then tennis in the 16th century, Croquet in the 17th, badminton in the 19th century.
The Lawn
However, the concept of a Lawn began in the 1700s, in France. André Le Nôtre, famed for the gardens at Versaille, designed small patterned green grass areas known as ‘tapis vert’, green carpets. Then the English adopted it wholeheartedly as part of a new style of ‘natural’ parks, that were in fact very designed and managed. Think Capability Brown if you know any history of UK garden designers. Which the French then go on to adopt, eschewing the rigid formality of the French style designed garden.
In either style, the lawn was very much a symbol of the rich, as only they could afford to maintain such a non-use area in the days before lawn mowers. Then in the 1800s, Edwin Beard Budding (great name) invents the lawn mower. With time, the concept of the lawn becomes available to the average person. And we have been slaves to it ever since.
The American Lawn
The lawn in America takes off after WWII. WIlliam Levitt designs Levittowns, designed suburbia of affordable houses for returning GIs. As part of these plans the houses came with lawns, and instructions on how to maintain and keep weed free. His houses and suburban style of living became so popular he was named one of the most influential people of the 20th century by Time magazine.
Today, lawns are the largest irrigated crop in the USA, easily outstripping food crops. And on the flip side, lawn mowing is designated as the chore most disliked. So go figure. But with water shortages in some areas and simply not liking mowing in others, the lawn is seeing some changes occurring. However the US is still the number 1 consumer of products and time allotted to their lawns. The UK comes in thereafter.
The French Lawn
Now let’s move onto the French lawn. It is what inspired me to write this piece. (More on that in a moment.) In France, a lawn is considered an area for picnics, lounging in the sun, playing games with pets or kids. And it too is maintained, generally, very well. Though maybe not as rigorously, excepting maybe some city parks, such as in Paris.
Paris is slightly different in that it has a love hate relationship with lawns and people, with many green parks showcasing signs saying ‘Keep Off!’. The majority of Paris’ green spaces have opening times. In fact, only 1/4 of parks in Paris have 24 hour access and access to lawns is strictly controlled, with picnicking only allowed between April and October (to aid in regenerating the grass). And playing on the grass is frowned upon, even fined.
The French Non Lawn
For those of you who speak or read French did you see what I did there, in this paragraphs header? Non?
Anyway, linguistic diversion aside, I became interested in this topic because of a guest I was guiding. He had noticed, and mentioned to me, that the French did not take their lawns as seriously as the Americans. (He was American.) I had never heard, or quite simply noticed this before so asked him to elaborate. As a lawn afficionado, he talked about all he did to maintain his perfect lawn. His wife added, no weed was ever allowed to grow. We had been talking about biodynamic viticulture and how weeds can tell us what is missing from our soil, which is what led to this discussion.
It made me start to look around and wonder about the French lawn. And I too noticed they are definitely more weed imbued. Or maybe I should say tiny flowers, after all what is a weed, but a plant growing in the wrong location. I began to see lawns here were covered in little, usually daisy-like flowers. And not just around houses, but even more prevalent in parks. I even saw a village football pitch dotted with flowers. So the French lawn seems to lean more to the natural style, more meadow like. And rather than try to eradicate, the weeds are simply mowed away when the time comes for the grass to be cut.
Turns out there is a movement afoot here in France, to mow less. It is felt that mowing frequently is not healthy for the garden, affecting not only the grass but the various insects and animals it supports. But I also suspect that the ban on herbicides (weed killers) here in 2022 is playing a part in a change of mentality. Maybe its better to embrace the natural than try to fight it as it becomes harder to do so. Or maybe it’s just the French are really not keen on mowing too, and have used it as an excuse.
More Musings
If you enjoyed my slightly quirky musings on the French Lawn, and would like to read more about France, check out my other French Findings. There are no rhymes or reasons to them, rather what I noticed is different about living in France.
If you like what you read, consider nourishing Pumpjack & Piddlewick.
Or check out My Shop, where yes, I do have a section on gardens and gardening related vintage and antique items. Here’s a taste…
Simply click on an image to see more.