# Why do old men like lawns? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 19, 2016, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-old-men-like-lawns/760360 "2016-07-19T21:52:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![spamforbrains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@spamforbrains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spamforbrains)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2016, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-old-men-like-lawns/760360/1 "2016-07-19T21:52:18Z")
I think lawns are an environmental disaster, and I have never encountered a single woman who thinks lawns are in any way important or even remotely interesting. But I have met a lot of men who think a perfect green expansive is important. I dumped a sexual partner once when he suddenly changed from normal to actually caring about what the lawn looked like, and I’m currently completely mystified about my dad’s obsession with the lawn. Is this like a peacock’s tail? ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2016, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-old-men-like-lawns/760360/2 "2016-07-19T22:01:07Z")
I think this is a pretty sexist viewpoint. I am female, and I like having grass. I know it’s a waste of water in a way. But I have to say that water is wasted in a million ways and at least water put on the lawn does not leave the universe but is recycled in its own way. Living in a very hot climate I appreciate the feel and the look of grass. I don’t think things like this are gender related, really. ETA: and it has nothing whatsoever to do with age. ---
**Author:** ![spamforbrains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@spamforbrains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spamforbrains)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2016, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-old-men-like-lawns/760360/3 "2016-07-19T22:07:00Z")
> [@](#): > > and it has nothing whatsoever to do with age. are you sure? my experience indicates otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2016, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-old-men-like-lawns/760360/4 "2016-07-19T22:07:45Z")
A well-groomed and manicured lawn can be very visually appealing. It shows pride in your home. Our front yard is sand on top of the septic tank and in the shade. A nice green lawn would look a lot better than what we have. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2016, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-old-men-like-lawns/760360/5 "2016-07-19T22:08:46Z")
So they have something to tell you to get off of. Because they look nice & are a lot less effort than a garden. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2016, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-old-men-like-lawns/760360/6 "2016-07-19T22:10:34Z")
> [@spamforbrains](#): > > are you sure? my experience indicates otherwise. It’s not age related. Some people like lawns. It may be that you see a lot of old men out working in the yard because they’re retired and they enjoy it. (Meanwhile, their wives are working in the garden.) Young people are at work. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2016, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-old-men-like-lawns/760360/7 "2016-07-19T22:10:37Z")
> [@spamforbrains](#): > > are you sure? my experience indicates otherwise. If by “old”, you mean over 30, you may have a point, as many under 30 don’t have houses with lawns at all. Other than that, I don’t think that there is anything age or sex related about the desire to have the place that you live look nice. ---
**Author:** ![sevenwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@sevenwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sevenwood)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2016, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-old-men-like-lawns/760360/8 "2016-07-19T22:10:51Z")
> [@spamforbrains](#): > > I have met a lot of men who think a perfect green expansive is important. Suburban Male responding here. A “perfect green expansive” (whatever that is) is not important. But I do like having some separation between my home and my neighbors’, and in this local section of the country that typically means having a lawn. And as long as you have one, it might as well look like you maintain it. > [@spamforbrains](#): > > I dumped a sexual partner once when he suddenly changed from normal to actually caring about what the lawn looked like. Seriously? Now I can’t get out of my head “It’s grass or ass - nobody rides for free” ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2016, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-old-men-like-lawns/760360/9 "2016-07-19T22:12:42Z")
I’m a woman who takes very good care of her half acre lawn. Not really old either (I’m 37!) My dad does care about his lawn more than I do, but neither of us water. We keep it cut and trimmed well and have it treated. No one in my neighborhood waters their lawn. I think we all like having some time off from mowing, after mowing every few days in the spring. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2016, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-old-men-like-lawns/760360/10 "2016-07-19T22:28:45Z")
They might be trying to sell the house, in which case, a nice looking lawn adds to the value. ---
**Author:** ![spamforbrains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@spamforbrains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spamforbrains)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2016, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-old-men-like-lawns/760360/11 "2016-07-19T22:30:33Z")
Hmm. So my alarm about obsessive behavior directed towards lawns is apparently being sparked by something else. Ok, thanks. The lawn is just a symptom. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2016, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-old-men-like-lawns/760360/12 "2016-07-19T22:33:58Z")
We don’t like lawns, we hate young people. ---
**Author:** ![spamforbrains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@spamforbrains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spamforbrains)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2016, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-old-men-like-lawns/760360/13 "2016-07-19T22:43:02Z")
I’m really concerned about my dad. I’m trying to figure out WHY I think this. I’m running data through my head, like most people do (or I assume they do). The last person I met who suddenly developed an obsession with the lawn needed a coronary bypass shortly thereafter and became um, unpleasant to be around. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2016, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-old-men-like-lawns/760360/14 "2016-07-19T22:49:01Z")
Excessive attention to a lawn can be a coping mechanism for someone who feels like they don’t have a lot of control over their life or impact on the world around them. That could be a more common feeling in older men, because they might feel more self-imposed pressure to make their mark on the world, and their time to do so is running out. That will be $0.05, please. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2016, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-old-men-like-lawns/760360/15 "2016-07-19T23:15:07Z")
Some places, like in the northeastern US, lawns are not “an environmental disaster” and don’t even need much irrigation. And they’re desirable if you have children. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2016, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-old-men-like-lawns/760360/16 "2016-07-19T23:24:39Z")
What is an “obsession with the lawn”? Does Dad crawl around on his hands and knees slurping up clippings and small animals? Historically, at our place it’s Mrs. J. that has done most of the lawn mowing while I raise the ornamentals and vegetables. And it’s been years since we fertilized the grass (never used any pesticides on it), so it’s only an “environmental disaster” in the sense that a relatively small amount of gas and oil go into the mower. Now I have “Pleasant Valley Sunday” going through my head. Thank goodness I have a TV in every room… ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2016, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-old-men-like-lawns/760360/17 "2016-07-19T23:36:19Z")
My wife wants a lawn much more then I do. Of course she also wants me to take care of it which is why I don’t want a lawn taking care of them is a pain. That being said I like a large lawn and it’s nice to have a place to throw a ball and run around they just suck to take care of. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2016, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-old-men-like-lawns/760360/18 "2016-07-19T23:41:13Z")
> [@sevenwood](#): > > Seriously? Now I can’t get out of my head “It’s grass or ass - nobody rides for free” It sounds like a very Seinfeldian reason to dump someone, if Seinfeld lived in the suburbs. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2016, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-old-men-like-lawns/760360/19 "2016-07-19T23:42:06Z")
I like having a lawn because it’s a damn fine place to exile the children when they want to play tag, or war, or race. No expensive electronics or fragile knick-knacks to break out there. It’s true now (52-year-old father of three children under the age of 11), and it was true 20 years ago (as a 32-year-old father of three children under the age of 11). I don’t attach much emotion or ego in the lawn, mind you. It’s just practical to have some greenspace under my direct supervision. ---
**Author:** ![Me\_Billy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e480ec/32.png) [@Me\_Billy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Me_Billy)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2016, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-old-men-like-lawns/760360/20 "2016-07-19T23:56:48Z")
Older people are not selfish like the younger generations. They do things which will please other people. In this case it looks nice for their neighbors to look at. Unselfish people do other things for other people as well. Like holding doors open for them, asking a visitor if they would like something to drink, etc. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-old-men-like-lawns/760360.md?page=2)