Op-Ed: The trouble with a well-manicured lawn
![Illustration of wildly grown grass, weeds and flowers](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9227cf2/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2010x1340+0+0/resize/1200x800!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F35%2F9a%2F42de58d44ef09ca7e5b3e6dbe6a3%2Fla-oe-radtke-lawns-header.jpg)
(Kristen Radtke)
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Kristen Radtke is the author of two books, including “Seek You: A Journey Through American Loneliness.” She is the art director at The Verge. @kristenradtke
![Illustration of a green lawn and two white chairs](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/cc10b19/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2033x1099+0+0/resize/1200x649!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fee%2Fb2%2Fe211a7c1433f9b47b2cde40646ae%2Fla-oe-radtke-lawns-1.jpg)
![Illustration of a golf course](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/6a2b3e5/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2033x1143+0+0/resize/1200x675!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F6d%2F05%2Ffe3124dc493d9198741fddf41856%2Fla-oe-radtke-lawns-2.jpg)
![Stacked illustrations of rows of identical planned houses and lawns](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3aabe1e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2033x2882+0+0/resize/1200x1701!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F4b%2F0c%2F8926ca7b44be9228a6ddeed6cc15%2Fla-oe-radtke-lawns-3.jpg)
![Stacked illustrations of a plant, fruits and vegetables and a hose and oil can](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/f42d174/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2033x4755+0+0/resize/1200x2807!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe6%2F7b%2F001aebc2464fa6e04c66fd9a3631%2Fla-oe-radtke-lawns-4.jpg)
![Stacked illustrations of clover, dandelions, weed killer and lawn fertilizer](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5bf9fd1/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2033x6162+0+0/resize/1200x3637!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F2d%2F2a%2F2be0746c42b5a152d02777c719fe%2Fla-oe-radtke-lawns-5.jpg)
![Stacked illustrations of fresh cut grass and overgrown flowers and plants](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5e13dce/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2033x2657+0+0/resize/1200x1568!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa6%2F55%2F0ac6ddcb432781fdf038eb2d86e5%2Fla-oe-radtke-lawns-6.jpg)
(Kristen Radtke)
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