A healthy lawn is essential not just for its appearance but for its environmental benefits.
The classic green lawn has been a staple for many years. However, it has been put under more scrutiny lately as people consider how much they input into their lawn. Water, fertilizer, and pesticide use can be managed responsibly as you maintain the health of your turf ground cover. In fact, maintaining a healthy lawn is crucial because of the following positive effects a well-maintained lawn can have on the surrounding environment.
Decreased Erosion
Healthy, thick grass helps prevent soil erosion. When your turf cover is thin or weak, the exposed soil can erode with rainfall and wash off the property. This erosion carries soil particles and nutrients away, impeding water flow and adding silt into local streams and ponds.
Cleaner Stormwater
Thick healthy grass can act like a sponge that absorbs water. During a storm, a healthy lawn absorbs the stormwater and holds the soil particles in place. This allows the lawn to essentially become a filter, catching sediment, slowing runoff, and leading to less and cleaner stormwater.
Reduced Noise and Glare
A healthy lawn can reduce noise by up to 40% compared to sound bouncing off hard surfaces like parking lots, streets, driveways, and homes. In addition to absorbing neighborhood noise, lawns reduce glare. The blades of grass disperse sunlight and improve general visibility on those sunny summer days.
Reduced Heat
During hot summers, lawns are 30% cooler than asphalt surfaces and 14% cooler than bare ground. Urban areas with lots of buildings and paved surfaces tend to be 10 to 15% warmer than rural areas with more turf cover. This is because healthy grass coverings act as a sort of natural air conditioning. Water evaporating from the grass blades creates a cooling effect on the environment.
Trapped Pollutants
A healthy lawn is also essential for fighting air pollution. It is estimated that as many as 12 million tons of dust and particles are released every year into the atmosphere. The dense leaf blades in healthy lawns play a significant role in trapping these particles in their environment.
Increased Oxygen Release
Through photosynthesis, lawns help remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and release oxygen. For instance, a 2,500 square foot lawn can absorb enough carbon dioxide over a year and produce enough oxygen for a family of four. By leaving grass clippings on your lawn, you can additionally decrease carbon release while naturally providing nutrients for the soil.
Improved Soil
Grass is continually growing and generating new roots. When your healthy lawn grows and develops as it should, the dying, decomposing, and regrowth of grass will build humus that improves the soil’s physical and chemical properties.
Enhanced Well-Being for Homeowners
Finally, a healthy lawn can affect the mental, physical, and emotional well-being of the people who live nearby. In addition to the natural benefits listed above, a great lawn also provides you with comfort and an excellent opportunity for sports and pet playtime.
Scientific Plant Service Is Your Go-To Source In Landscape Healthcare
Scientific Plant Service, located in Baltimore, is a privately owned corporation, chartered in Maryland in 1957 by Frank J. Burke. We started as a full-service Arborists specializing in the care of shade trees and ornamental shrubs, but today we are a Lawn Care company that is a huge part of the community. From aquatic environments and snow management to deer and mole control, SPS has services tailored specifically for your lawn and landscape.
We offer services in Maryland, Washington, DC, and Virginia, including: Harford, Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick, Howard, Anne Arundel, Montgomery, Prince Georges, Talbot, Queen Anne’s, Calvert counties in MD, as well as Loudoun County, Fairfax County, Arlington, Alexandria, and Falls Church in VA. For more information, contact us online, or call us at 410-321-0970. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest!