Approximately 80% of all homes in the United
States have grass lawns. Lawns are a $40 billion per year industry
and 3 billion man-hours are spent mowing lawns. A variety of factors
caused grass lawns to become more popular.
The Industrial Revolution resulted in the first lawn mower,
originally developed by Edwin Budding in 1830. Doing away with
scythes and back-breaking labor meant that trimmed grass lawns were
more accessible to the average person.
Frederick Law Olmstead, who designed Central Park in New York, also
designed suburbs where each house had its own little lawn. This
further popularized the idea that houses should have grass lawns.
About that time, the games of golf, lawn bowling, and other sports
were becoming popular in North America. As people worked less hours
and had more time to themselves, there was time to play golf, or to
tend a lush, green lawn.
Next to grass at a major league baseball field is a strip of dirt
located in front of the home run fence. This dirt trail is known
as the warning track. Outfielders use the warning track as a
warning that they are nearing the fence when chasing a fly ball.