America’s Lawn Care Habits in 2025: What 1,000+ Homeowners Reveal (and How to Use It)

William Golde
Oct 13
3 min read

2025 Lawn Care Survey: Habits, Costs, and Tips From 1,000+ U.S. Homeowners

Meta description: A new nationwide survey uncovers how Americans really care for their lawns—top challenges, spending by state and generation, and simple tips to get greener results.

Keeping a healthy lawn shouldn’t feel like a full-time job. Yet a brand-new U.S. survey of 1,028 homeowners shows many of us are still guessing on basics like watering and mowing—and paying for it with weeds, brown patches, and wasted effort. Below, we break down the most useful findings and turn them into practical steps you can use this season. (Survey and infographic: Tractor Supply, published April 16, 2025. Tractor Supply Co.)

The Top Lawn Care Challenges in 2025

Weeds are enemy #1: 43% of homeowners say weeds are their biggest headache.
Time is tight: 36% don’t feel they have enough time for lawn care.
Brown/dying spots are common: 32% wrestle with turf that browns out or dies back.
Garden/landscape upkeep is tough: 25% struggle to maintain beds and borders.
Pet waste disposal isn’t trivial: 21% call it their top challenge. Tractor Supply Co.

Confidence gap: A full 25% aren’t confident in their lawn-care skills. And while 27% plan to spend more this year, 69% will hold steady and 4% expect to spend less—so getting smarter, not just spending more, really matters. Tractor Supply Co.

Quick Wins: Common Myths That Cost You

Water timing: 47% don’t know that morning watering is best to reduce evaporation and disease pressure.
Mowing direction: 58% aren’t sure about best-practice mowing patterns (alternating directions helps reduce ruts and turf stress). Tractor Supply Co.

Action checklist

Water deeply in the morning, less frequently, to drive roots down.
Alternate mowing patterns and keep blades sharp.
Maintain an appropriate height (generally 2.5–4 in., depending on grass type). Tractor Supply Co.

Who Spends the Most on Lawns?

By state: Wyoming tops the list at $273/mo, followed by South Dakota $175 and New Jersey $128. Rounding out the top ten: Vermont, Iowa, South Hawaii, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, Georgia, and Massachusetts. Tractor Supply Co.
By generation: Millennials lead with $701/mo, Gen X $626, Boomers $475, Gen Z $101. Tractor Supply Co.
By years in the home: Owners 10+ years spend about $721/mo, compared with $612 (4–6 years), $405 (1–3 years), $169 (7–9 years), and $142 (<1 year). Tractor Supply Co.

Translation: established homeowners and millennial households are investing heavily—suggesting curated, higher-value services (soil testing, irrigation tuning, weed management) have room to grow.

Why Homeowners Keep At It

The #1 motivator is simple: the satisfaction of a great-looking lawn. People also enjoy hands-on yard work, want to protect property value, avoid neighbor judgment, and create a kid-friendly play space. Tractor Supply Co.

Over Half Don’t Know Their Grass Type—Here’s Why That Matters

A surprising 58% of Americans don’t know what grass they have (e.g., Bermuda, St. Augustine, Bluegrass, Fescue, Bahia). But grass type drives mowing height, fertility plan, watering needs, and foot-traffic tolerance—so this one step unlocks better results with less effort. Tractor Supply Co.

Find your grass type in 10 minutes

Note your region (cool-season vs. warm-season zone).
Compare blade width, growth habit (bunching vs. creeping), and texture with a trusted guide.
If you’re unsure, take clear photos and ask a local extension office or pro.

A Beginner’s 9-Step Lawn Plan (That Actually Works)

Identify your grass type.
Map sun/shade zones; plant and care accordingly.
Set mowing height to your grass’s ideal range (often 2.5–4 in.).
Alternate mowing patterns to reduce compaction and ruts.
Water in the morning, deeply and infrequently.
Fertilize by grass needs and season; don’t overapply.
Manage traffic (pets, kids) with paths or tougher turf in high-use areas.
Outsource selectively—aeration, overseeding, irrigation audits can pay back fast.
Stay current on regional tips and seasonal timing. Tractor Supply Co.

Key Takeaways for 2025

You don’t need to spend more—spend smarter by fixing timing (water a.m.), mowing strategy, and fertilizer matching.
Know your grass to cut input costs and improve results.
Consider targeted pro services if you lack time; focus on the highest ROI tasks (weed control, irrigation calibration, soil health).

Source & Infographic: “New Survey Unveils the Truth Behind Lawn Care Maintenance Habits,” Tractor Supply (Apr 16, 2025). Credit Tractor Supply and view the full findings and infographic here. Tractor Supply Co.

Optional author note (delete if not needed): This article summarizes publicly available survey findings and aligns them with best-practice lawn care steps so homeowners can get greener results with less trial-and-error.