The 5 Benefits Of A Healthy Lawn
Your lawn is not only beautiful, it has many benefits to the environment. We’ll unveil the top five benefits of nurturing a thriving lawn. From creating a haven for biodiversity to absorbing harmful carbon, maintaining a healthy lawn isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about fostering a vibrant ecosystem right in your own backyard.
Runoff Reduction
A 5,000 sq. ft. lawn, made of natural grass, approximately 2000 gallons of rainwater can be retained before runoff occurs on sandy-loam soil, while sandy soil can hold up to 27,000 gallons before runoff. Merely the thatch layer of the same-sized lawn can intercept 500 gallons of rainfall before runoff. Ecosystem benefits provided by grass lawns encompass water filtration, sediment reduction, runoff mitigation, flood control, and abatement of point and non-point source pollution.
Beneath Your Feet: The Hidden Life of Lawns
Unbeknownst to many, there exists a bustling ecosystem right under the surface of your lawn, quietly thriving while families and children enjoy the surface pleasures of grass lawns. Indeed, beneath the surface lies a teeming abundance of life supported by grass lawns. From the intricate processes of plants and soil to the bustling activity of arthropods and microorganisms, lawns sustain a diverse array of life in urban and suburban areas worldwide. Home lawns can harbor up to 28 genera of nematodes, including bacterivores, predators, omnivores, and plant parasites. The soil microbiome, comprising bacteria, fungi, and archaea, benefits from the enhanced microbial diversity in grass lawns compared to bare soil, regulating microbial community composition. Lawn establishment enriches soil microbial diversity and composition.
Oxygen Production
The average 5,000-square-foot grass lawn can produce enough oxygen daily to support 14 to 34 people. This crucial byproduct of photosynthesis is a vital element for human existence, as a stable atmospheric oxygen concentration is essential for life. Numerous factors influence oxygen release from plants, including temperature, solar radiation, moisture, nutrients, radiation use efficiency, and the diverse photosynthetic pathways inherent in cool-season and warm-season grasses.
Carbon Sequestration
Studies indicate that grasses can sequester and store carbon in the soil at a rate of approximately one-half ton of carbon per acre per year over a span of 30 to 40 years. The net carbon sequestration rate in urban lawns is estimated to range from 200 to 1,800 lbs of carbon per acre per year. Research models projecting carbon sequestration by lawns suggest that lawns across the United States alone can lock away between 12.5 million and 95 million tons of atmospheric carbon dioxide annually. This equates to the annual emissions of between 2.4 million and 18 million typical passenger vehicles.
Heat Mitigation
Chances are, you've experienced it firsthand – strolling barefoot on an asphalt road during summer can be uncomfortably hot. Where's the first place you seek relief? Often, without much thought, it's the nearest lawn. Surprisingly, lawns can offer temperatures up to 60 degrees cooler than the nearby pavement. Plants, particularly natural turfgrass, function as natural coolers through a process called evapotranspiration, it's like air conditioning for outdoor spaces.
Even a small lawn can have a great impact on the environment and those around us.