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Comment by javier123454321 | Hacker News Reader

Yeah but more space, and are therefore the wrong choice a lot of the time.

Which is why they are very popular in the less densely populated and large lot size areas of the English Country side. By the time of the New World, fast population growth meant the economics of brick production wasn't feasible and copious alternative methods were easier (wood/picket fences, wood studs+wire, chain-link or wrought iron/brick + iron). All less long lasting, but cheaper, quicker and easier to install with almost the same benefits (fencing of pets + livestock, property demarcation, security). Which is why you don't see them nearly as often outside of Europe (Asia having used their own alternatives better suited for their environment and needs, Africa having had New World techniques used during colonialism).

Or it's a way to brag about how much space you have.

Yeah. Like how Lawns were a way to brag about how much land you have.

"Look, I have so much land I can just grow grass instead of crops, you plebs".

And the lawns of today’s middle class are of course still about signaling, it being very humsn for people to try to raise themselves up by adopting and imitating the lifestyle and customs of the class above them. "Look, I have enough leisure time to spend on an entirely superfluous activity!" or "Look, I’m wealthy enough to pay somebody to engage in an entirely superfluous activity!"

Particularly in arid climates it’s also "look how much I can afford to waste perfectly good drinking water!"

Something that gave me a chuckle growing up where I did in Australia: everyone's lawn died in the summer. You're weren't allowed to water it enough due to drought measures, and the summers are so hot they die off on the first heat of the season.

I notice a lot more people ditch the lawn for native plants now. Sure does look a lot less futile than spending a third of your lot on dead grass.

Many memories playing cricket on dry, prickly, dead grass as a kid.

Lawns don't usually die in the summer, they go dormant. You can usually distinguish between dead grass and dormant grass by observing the color: dormant grass is yellow, while dead grass is grayish.

Texas lawns commonly use some form of bermuda grass, which goes dormant during the hot season (typically late July to late September). Some lawns will mix in a rye grass which shows bright green color during this same season to preserve the look, but obviously this compromises the growth of both types of grass.

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