
The Benefits of Turf Grass
In addition to serving as the home base of your outdoor lifestyle, there are dozens of social and environmental benefits to owning a healthy, well-maintained lawn. In fact, properly maintained turf grass does more for the environment than most other plants. In addition to owning a special space to build memories with friends and family, you can also enjoy these benefits of turf grass.
The Air We Breathe
- Healthy lawns absorb carbon dioxide from the air and replace it with oxygen
- One 50-foot-by-50-foot patch of turf grass produces enough oxygen for a family of four
- Grass transpires water into the air, increasing humidity and decreasing pollutants
- Lawns help improve air quality by storing carbon and absorbing ozone
Erosion Control
- Grass is more effective at binding soil than any other plant
- Grass controls runoff by slowing water velocity, allowing it to soak into the soil
- Roots increase water storage capability by loosening soil and adding organic matter
- Root systems also penetrate and hold on to soil, trapping essential nutrients
Energy Conservation
- Turf grasses, shrubs and trees cool the air by absorbing solar radiation and through a process called evapotranspiration
- The cooling effect of grass can lower air conditioner usage, thus reducing pollution and energy costs
- Turf grass reduces energy usage on a national level due to its cooling effect on the environment
Temperature Modification
- The average city temperature is hotter because buildings and streets hold heat overnight (the urban heating effect)
- On a summer day, a sidewalk temperature might reach well above 100°F, whereas a lawn surface might remain at around 75°F
- Turf grass is an evaporative cooler, which is why grass temperatures are an average of 10°F to 14°F cooler than asphalt and concrete.
Water Purification and Conservation
- The biology of turf grass soils turns lawns into a perfect natural water purifier
- Water travels into underground aquifers via the grass’s root zones
- Soil microbes break chemicals down into harmless materials—including turf pesticide
- The root zones of thick, healthy lawns help clean passing waters and reduce runoff to nearly zero
Allergy Control
- Mowed turf grass helps control seeds and spores, dust pollen from weeds and populations of stinging and biting insects
- Lawn must be well-maintained, however, as weed seeds are always present in soil
- Once patches open up in a lawn, weeds sprout up, causing allergy problems
- Some weeds, like Clovers, attract bees, whose sting can produce allergic reactions
Beauty and Curb Appeal
- Lawns serve as the perfect canvas for landscaping creativity and excellence
- Healthy turf grass makes and completes an inviting setting for the whole family
- Turf grass organizes and pulls together all of your landscaping components, providing visual coherence
- Yards are the first thing people see when walking up to a property, giving a first impression that conveys hospitality and warmth
Home Value
- Lawns are typically a major component of any highly valued home landscape
- Landscaping a property properly can increase the value of a home by 10% to 15%
- It also gives potential buyers the perception of it being a place where they can not only enjoy the home but also live life outdoors
Noise and Glare Reduction
- Noise and glare are both reduced by the surface characteristics of turf grasses
- The surface of turf grass is far superior at absorbing sounds than bare ground, gravel, pavement and other hard surfaces
- It’s possible to maximize noise and glare reduction benefits by integrating a landscape with turf grasses, shrubs and trees
Recreation
- Turf grass offers a low-cost way to provide safe recreational surfaces for kids and adults
- Family picnics, adult gatherings and backyard sports are all bonding experiences
- Quality parks and sports fields can build community pride and provide endless interest and entertainment
- Recreational activities and leisure time spent on turf grass can improve mental and physical health, something that’s vital to modern society—especially in densely packed urban centers