These lawn care figures cover the measurement periods and populations identified in the available source material. Estimates, surveys and forecasts retain their reported scope.
Key Lawn Care Statistics
The main findings are:
- Landscaping services employed 915,720 workers across all occupations in the U.S. industry in May 2023 (United States; NAICS 561730 landscaping services).
- Residential outdoor water use in the United States is nearly 8 billion gallons per day, mainly for landscape irrigation (Current EPA WaterSense estimate as accessed October 2026; United States residential households).
- A peer-reviewed study measured turfgrass evapotranspiration in 79 residential households across six U.S. cities (Growing seasons 2018; published 2023; Baltimore, Boston, Miami, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Los Angeles, and Phoenix).
- The EPA turfgrass allowance report capped turfgrass at 40% of landscaped area for its WaterSense home specification analysis (2009 report; U.S. WaterSense new-home specification analysis).
- A summarized study of 548 Marin County dwellings found turf-dominated landscapes used 54% more water than water-conserving landscapes (1987 study summarized in 2009; Marin County, California).
- 1,200 emergency-department-treated lawn-mower-related injuries among adults aged 65 and older in 2011 for the walk-behind rotary-mower product code (United States; adults 65 and older).
- First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers numbered 85,210 in the U.S. landscaping-services industry in May 2023 (United States; NAICS 561730 landscaping services).
- Measured lawns used 0.6–1.3 millimeters of water per day in humid cities (Growing seasons 2018; Humid-city lawns in the six-city U.S. study).
- The EPA report associated a 40% turfgrass allowance with almost 2,500 square feet of functional turf under its average-yard assumption (2009 report; Average-yard assumption in the EPA analysis).
- A summarized study of 27 Las Vegas sites found turf area explained 81% of the variation in outdoor-water use (2008 study summarized in 2009; Las Vegas, Nevada).
- Among seniors treated in emergency departments for lawn-mower-related injuries in 2011, lacerations accounted for 18.7% of diagnoses (United States; adults 65 and older).
- Measured lawns used 2.2–3.6 millimeters of water per day in hot, dry cities (Growing seasons 2018; Los Angeles and Phoenix study lawns).
- The EPA report identified cool-season turfgrass as best adapted to soil temperatures of 16–24°C (2009 report; U.S. turfgrass classification).
- A summarized Irvine comparison reported 1.39 acre-feet of water per acre for a native-plant village, 54% less than an all-turf village (2006 study summarized in 2009; Irvine, California).
- Among seniors treated in emergency departments for lawn-mower-related injuries in 2011, fractures accounted for 16.5% of diagnoses (United States; adults 65 and older).
Contents
- Key Lawn Care Statistics
- The U.S. lawn-care and landscaping economy
- Household outdoor water use
- Measured residential lawn water demand
- Turfgrass composition and management
- Water-saving landscape outcomes
- Lawn-mower injury patterns
The U.S. lawn-care and landscaping economy
- Landscaping services employed 915,720 workers across all occupations in the U.S. industry in May 2023 (United States; NAICS 561730 landscaping services). (May 2023 National Industry-Specific Occupational…)
- First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers numbered 85,210 in the U.S. landscaping-services industry in May 2023 (United States; NAICS 561730 landscaping services). (May 2023 National Industry-Specific Occupational…)
BLS occupational employment estimate for the landscaping-services industry; it is not a count of lawn-care-only workers.
BLS occupational estimate; the occupation includes landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping supervision.
Household outdoor water use
Residential outdoor water use in the United States is nearly 8 billion gallons per day, mainly for landscape irrigation (Current EPA WaterSense estimate as accessed October 2026; United States residential households). (Outdoors)
EPA describes this as a national estimate, not a direct meter census; it includes residential outdoor use beyond lawns.
Measured residential lawn water demand
- A peer-reviewed study measured turfgrass evapotranspiration in 79 residential households across six U.S. cities (Growing seasons 2018; published 2023; Baltimore, Boston, Miami, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Los Angeles, and Phoenix). (Evapotranspiration of Residential Lawns Across…)
- Measured lawns used 0.6–1.3 millimeters of water per day in humid cities (Growing seasons 2018; Humid-city lawns in the six-city U.S. study). (Evapotranspiration of Residential Lawns Across…)
- Measured lawns used 2.2–3.6 millimeters of water per day in hot, dry cities (Growing seasons 2018; Los Angeles and Phoenix study lawns). (Evapotranspiration of Residential Lawns Across…)
Study sample was 79 households and is not a national household survey.
Observed evapotranspiration range for the study yards, not a national average.
Turfgrass composition and management
- The EPA turfgrass allowance report capped turfgrass at 40% of landscaped area for its WaterSense home specification analysis (2009 report; U.S. WaterSense new-home specification analysis). (Research Report on Turfgrass Allowance)
- The EPA report associated a 40% turfgrass allowance with almost 2,500 square feet of functional turf under its average-yard assumption (2009 report; Average-yard assumption in the EPA analysis). (Research Report on Turfgrass Allowance)
- The EPA report identified cool-season turfgrass as best adapted to soil temperatures of 16–24°C (2009 report; U.S. turfgrass classification). (Research Report on Turfgrass Allowance)
- The EPA report identified warm-season turfgrass as best adapted to soil temperatures of 27–35°C (2009 report; U.S. turfgrass classification). (Research Report on Turfgrass Allowance)
- The EPA report summarized cited research estimating cool-season turf water use at 80%–100% of reference evapotranspiration (2009 report; U.S. turfgrass research summarized by EPA). (Research Report on Turfgrass Allowance)
- The EPA report summarized cited research estimating warm-season turf water use at 80%–90% of reference evapotranspiration (2009 report; U.S. turfgrass research summarized by EPA). (Research Report on Turfgrass Allowance)
This is a program specification/analysis value, not a measured share of all U.S. yards.
The figure follows the report’s assumed average yard and is not a measured national yard-size distribution.
Adaptation range summarized in an EPA report; actual performance varies by cultivar, soil, and management.
Secondary summary of cited studies; the range is not a direct national lawn measurement.
Water-saving landscape outcomes
- A summarized study of 548 Marin County dwellings found turf-dominated landscapes used 54% more water than water-conserving landscapes (1987 study summarized in 2009; Marin County, California). (Research Report on Turfgrass Allowance)
- A summarized study of 27 Las Vegas sites found turf area explained 81% of the variation in outdoor-water use (2008 study summarized in 2009; Las Vegas, Nevada). (Research Report on Turfgrass Allowance)
- A summarized Irvine comparison reported 1.39 acre-feet of water per acre for a native-plant village, 54% less than an all-turf village (2006 study summarized in 2009; Irvine, California). (Research Report on Turfgrass Allowance)
- A five-year Southern Nevada study summarized by EPA found water-efficient landscapes used 76% less water per unit area (Five-year study summarized in 2009). (Research Report on Turfgrass Allowance)
Local observational study summarized by EPA; its result should not be generalized to every climate or landscape.
Study-specific regression statistic; it describes explained variation, not a causal reduction applicable to all yards.
Local village comparison summarized by EPA; landscape design and climate limit generalization.
Local multi-year study summarized by EPA; the result is not a national average.
Lawn-mower injury patterns
- CPSC estimated 1,200 emergency-department-treated lawn-mower-related injuries among adults aged 65 and older in 2011 for the walk-behind rotary-mower product code (United States; adults 65 and older). (Senior Hazards Sketch 2013)
- Among seniors treated in emergency departments for lawn-mower-related injuries in 2011, lacerations accounted for 18.7% of diagnoses (United States; adults 65 and older). (Senior Hazards Sketch 2013)
- Among seniors treated in emergency departments for lawn-mower-related injuries in 2011, fractures accounted for 16.5% of diagnoses (United States; adults 65 and older). (Senior Hazards Sketch 2013)
- Among seniors treated in emergency departments for lawn-mower-related injuries in 2011, strains and sprains accounted for 15.4% of diagnoses (United States; adults 65 and older). (Senior Hazards Sketch 2013)
- Among seniors treated in emergency departments for lawn-mower-related injuries in 2011, contusions and abrasions accounted for 11.8% of diagnoses (United States; adults 65 and older). (Senior Hazards Sketch 2013)
NEISS estimate for a senior age group and a walk-behind rotary-mower product code; it is not all-age mower injuries.
CPSC diagnosis distribution for the covered NEISS senior cases; diagnosis categories can coexist and percentages are not a severity rate.
CPSC diagnosis distribution for the covered NEISS senior cases; it is not an all-age injury share.