LawnByCounty

Methodology

Lawn Difficulty Score

A data-driven index measuring how challenging it is to maintain a healthy lawn in any US county, scored 0-100 (higher = harder).

How the LDS Is Calculated

The Lawn Difficulty Score (LDS) is a 0-100 index where higher values indicate greater difficulty maintaining a healthy lawn. An additional 8-point penalty is applied for counties in the transition zone (hardiness zones 6a-7a) where neither cool-season nor warm-season grasses are fully adapted.

25%

Rainfall Adequacy

How far annual precipitation deviates from the ideal 35-45 inch range for lawns.

25%

Soil Quality

Based on clay/sand content, pH extremes, and drainage class from USDA SSURGO data.

20%

Temperature Extremes

Number of days above 95F and whether the growing season is too short for establishment.

20%

Growing Season Length

Days between last spring frost and first fall frost. Shorter seasons limit grass options.

10%

Drought Frequency

Percentage of the past year spent in drought conditions per the US Drought Monitor.

Score Distribution

Distribution of Lawn Difficulty Scores across 3,144 US counties.

0-10
37
10-20
556
20-30
1448
30-40
755
40-50
313
50-60
30
60-70
0
70-80
0
80-90
0
90-100
0

Lawn Difficulty Map

Interactive choropleth map coming soon

Easy
Moderate
Hard
Very Hard

All Grass Species

Data Sources & Citations

  • USDA SSURGO — Soil Survey Geographic Database. Provides soil texture, pH, drainage class, and organic matter data.
  • NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020) — 30-year climate averages including precipitation, temperature extremes, growing degree days, and frost dates.
  • USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map — Based on minimum winter temperatures, determines which grasses can survive in each county.
  • US Drought Monitor — Weekly drought status tracking providing current and historical drought severity data.