"... THE neatly manicured lawn was imported from England, and has been like a civic religion in the United States since the early 20th century. ..."
Gardeners Fight With Neighbors and City Hall Over Their Lawns - The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/20/garden/gardeners-fight-with-neighbors-and-city-hall-over-their-lawns.html