After World War II, America came home — and started mowing. The postwar housing boom turned the humble lawn into a national icon, thanks largely to a developer named William Levitt. In 1947, Levitt & Sons began building Levittown, New York, one of the first planned suburban communities. Every identical house came with a front lawn already seeded, mowed, and manicured — a ready-made dreamscape for returning soldiers and their families.

The idea caught fire. With the GI Bill making homeownership attainable, suburban lawns became a symbol of stability and success. Uniform green yards weren’t just aesthetic; they were aspirational. They reflected pride, order, and belonging — values that fit neatly into the postwar American story.

As the suburbs expanded, so did the tools of the trade. Power mowers, fertilizers, and sprinkler systems filled garages nationwide. Magazines like Better Homes & Gardens pushed the “lush lawn lifestyle,” while brands like Scotts and Toro built entire industries around the pursuit of greener grass.

Today’s Takeaway: Suburbia didn’t just shape where Americans lived — it shaped how they lived. The expectation of a neatly trimmed lawn became part of the cultural DNA. Whether you own a half-acre in Hunterdon County or a compact yard in the city, the instinct to keep it tidy traces back to the first postwar neighborhoods.