061: Grass Remembers: A Lesson for Life and Learning

“How the patterns we create shape the way we grow”

When I was in college, summer breaks often meant working alongside my father, a landscaper. My brothers, sister, and mom placed bets on how long I’d last - manual labor, scorching heat, long pants, dirt under my nails.

I surprised them all. I worked with my dad every summer through college, and I loved it. I loved the feeling of immediate results. I loved the time with my dad. I even loved the hum of the mower, the rhythm of weedwacking, and the quiet lessons I absorbed… lessons that had little to do with grass and everything to do with life.

One of those lessons has stuck with me… rooted in the very blades of grass.

The Science Behind “Grass Memory”

It turns out the phrase "grass has memory" isn’t just poetic. There’s actual science behind it. In lawn care, this idea shows up in two ways:

1. Directional Memory: Grass blades tend to lean the way they’ve been mowed. If you always mow in the same pattern (for example, lengthwise), they begin to bend and grow in that direction. That’s why experts recommend switching it up: mow diagonally, then widthwise, then lengthwise. Changing the pattern not only keeps the grass standing straighter, it also prevents ruts from forming where the mower’s wheels travel.
   
   
2. Stress Memory: Grass also “remembers” where it’s been stressed. Leave a kiddie pool or lawn chair in one spot too long, and the compacted soil underneath struggles to bounce back. Likewise, a lawn that has endured drought or dormancy may look lifeless, but given the right care, it remembers how to thrive again.

What Grass Taught Me

Nearly three decades later, I still love to mow or weedwack my yard. It takes me back to those early mornings with my dad… the smell of fresh-cut grass, the immediacy of seeing a beautiful change in scenery.  

And I can’t help but see the metaphor:

Like grass, we too lean in the direction of our patterns. The habits we repeat shape the way we grow.

And like grass, we carry the memory of our stresses, our obstacles, our dormant seasons. But with care, we can stand tall again.

A Reminder for Educators

As a new school year begins, this idea of memory matters for our students too.

Students “lean” into the patterns they experience. This includes how we greet them, the routines we establish, the way we respond to their successes and mistakes. 

If we always approach them from the same angle, they may only grow one way. 

But when we intentionally vary our approaches, offer new perspectives, and provide different kinds of support, they develop a stronger, more balanced foundation.

Students also remember their stresses. Past academic struggles, social challenges, or even last year’s labels can leave compacted spots in their confidence. 

With consistent care like encouragement, empathy, and opportunities to grow in fresh conditions, they can recover and thrive… just like resilient blades of grass.

So, as you guide your students this year, think of the lawn: change up the patterns, nurture the stressed spots, and watch them grow in ways you might not expect.

Because grass remembers.
And so do they.
And so do we.