The image of a home framed by a white picket fence and a lush green lawn is basically the American dream visualized. But there is, of course, a footnote on getting that ideal yard: It requires a ton of watering, proper tending, and a little bit of gardener’s luck to stick. And in drought-striken areas like California, brown is the new green when it comes to landscaping.
Still, we’re not a country that shies away from a little cosmetic upkeep in the face of imperfection. And in California specifically, business is booming for a unique service that’s a cross between landscaping and makeup artistry — spray painting your lawn green.
By spray paint, we don’t mean picking up a can of acrylic hunter green from Home Depot. The businesses that provide this service — like Brown Lawn Green, which we spotted on the Bay Area’sABC7 News — use a special solution made of stone pigments and oil to give lawns a envy-hued facelift.
The application seems easy and straightforward enough, but these services and products can vary widely. The New York Times reports that “there are dozens of lawn paint options available, from longer-lasting formulas typically used on high-traffic turf such as ballparks and golf courses, to naturally derived products that rely on a highly concentrated pigment.”
And while this might all sound like a genius solution, it’s important pause and ponder before you sign on the dotted line on any such service.
Our experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute are skeptical of wide-sweeping eco-friendly claims some providers tout and recommend asking a lot of questions if you’re interested in painting your lawn. Poll the service providers about how long the treatment lasts and what damage it might cause your yard. Ask about the dye’s ingredients, and request information on whether it’s safe to use around kids and pets.
Still, regardless of whether or not this is the right choice for your home, you can’t argue that it’s pretty darn mesmerizing to watch.