National Lawn Care Month

April is National Lawn Care Month! One way to celebrate lawns is to recognize their benefit beyond the yard. Grass not only enhances your curb appeal, but is also good for you, the environment, and the planet.

The Importance of a Healthy Lawn

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• Lawn grass is ecologically-friendly because it catches dust and smoke particles from the air.
  Turf can trap and absorb airborne pollutants such as dust and soot.
  

• Lawns are 20 degrees cooler than bare soil and 31 degrees cooler than asphalt.
  Yard grass acts like an air conditioner for the surrounding area. Grass in urban areas reduces heat islands compared to only having concrete and asphalt.
  

• Grass acts as a water filter by absorbing unhealthy run-off before it reaches stormwater drains or your local waterways.
  Turfgrass roots reduce the flow of run-off and clean the water of pollutants thanks to their deep root systems. Healthy grass has miles of fibrous roots that hold water and filter toxins out of it. One grass plant can have up to 300 miles of roots—including tiny fibrous roots.
  

• Lawn grass, along with trees and other landscape plants, minimizes outdoor noise, including traffic and loud music.
  Lawns and plantings contribute to noise level reductions by absorbing and deflecting sounds. So if you live in a loud neighborhood, try adding a few more plants and take special care of your grass. You may start to see the noise levels go down around your home!
  

• Grass minimizes erosion from wind and water.
  The healthier your grass is, the less likely you will be to suffer from erosion damage. Erosion occurs when water or wind causes your soil to break down, resulting in trouble spots. Healthy grass with a strong root system will ensure that no erosion will take place.

• It provides oxygen!
  Grass goes through the same photosynthesis process that all other plants do, removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and replacing it with oxygen. It is estimated that a healthy lawn with an area of 25 square feet provides enough oxygen for one person for one day.
  

• Grass improves the quality of life in your neighborhood.
  According to the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP), communities with healthy lawns and landscapes are happier, the homeowners are more relaxed, and there’s a reduction in environmental threats. Researchers have found that healthy lawns and landscapes reduce stress, health care costs, and improve the quality of life in that neighborhood.
  

• Grass improves soil structure.
  Compacted soil doesn’t allow water to be absorbed, resulting in groundwater resources not being replenished when it rains. This can lead to potential problems for areas that rely on precipitation for drinking water. Grass helps to keep the soil loose, with plenty of spots for water to be absorbed.
  

• Many homeowners enjoy relaxing in their backyards.
  One in four folks says that relaxing in their yard was one of their favorite activities. Of American homeowners, 75% of them believe it’s essential to enjoy their property—and that includes Millennials who are new to home buying.