Are you responsible? Then the lawn is yellow

A perfect green lawn has always been considered a symbol of status and power

In drought waves this can change.

Currently, there are bans on irrigation in several Swedish municipalities. The ban means, among other things, that you should not use municipal drinking water to water your lawn, and Swedes generally seem to follow the guidelines well.

– However, there are examples of people who ignore the ban on irrigation. You turn off the water separator when someone bypasses one of the water access bans, but half an hour later you start over again when you think the water coast is ready, says Dan Löfgren, communications manager at Svenskt Vatten

so this could help some to make the lawn disappear in the sun? In addition to the ignorance of the consequences of water consumption, a possible cause may be the high prestige to which the perfect lawn has historically been associated.

– Historically, most people have used their green spaces to grow. The lawn has become a status symbol for those who have the privilege of not having to, but on the contrary, luxury has the ability to reduce the time and money needed to maintain the lawn, explains the law. American anthropologist Krystal D & Costa. 19659007] Historical Heritage

It is in the 18th century that lawns began to appear in the elites of Europe, for example in the famous garden surrounding the Palace of Versailles. Gradually, the lawn has been "democratized" to the extent that it no longer beautifies only the elite gardens, but Costa believes that the symbol of lawn status remains largely. For example, in the 1920s, it became more important for American homeowners to spice up their lawns as more cars drove past homes.

– I do not know the European context, but keeping in mind the American ideals. Households and consumption have gained high status throughout the Western world, I think that there are a lot of similarities.

The yellow lawn indicates care

Recently, however, there is a tendency to believe that the high status of the green lawn is inadequate. . Partly because of movements that advocate that nature grows freely, but also because of the recurring drought. In California, he has become more and more common with what is called the "shame project", which means that on social networks, they put pictures on the standing neighbors and water their lawns in the frame. Irrigation bans in force

People are selfish and do not care about their environment, says Krystal D & # 39; Costa.

Swedish Water's Dan Löfgren says no one should look for a green lawn during the summer stench as Sweden is living.