Environmental Benefits
At a time when attention to global warming, air pollution and concerns about carbon emissions are making worldwide news; it's important to take a closer look at turfgrass and the many environmental, health, economic and community benefits it has to offer.
Soil Erosion Control
Turfgrasses are relatively inexpensive, durable groundcovers that protect our valuable, nonrewable soil resource from water and wind erosion.
Dust & Air Pollution Control
Turfgrasses trap tons of dust and dirt released annually into the atmosphere.
Carbon Retention & Storage
Nearly a ton of carbon per acre per year is stored in the soil of golf course fairways and greens..
Oxygen Production
Five square meters of turfgrass provides enough oxygen for one person for an entire day.
Cooling Effect
The front lawns on a block of eight average homes have the cooling effect of 70 tons of air conditioning!
Heat Dissipation
Turfgrass plays an important part in controlling our climate. Gassed surfaces reduce temperature extremes by absorbing the sun's heat during the day and releasing it slowly in the evening, thus moderating temperature. Grass plants absorb some solar radiation to fuel the photosynthesis processs. Roughly 50% of the sun's heat striking the turf may be eliminated through this transpirational cooling process.
Wild Life Habitat
Typically, 1.7 times more area on a golf course is used for natural habitat than is used for golf.
Ponds , lakes and wetlands are very desirable features as used in parks and golf courses because they create aquantic habitats, as well as diversity in visual landscape. A study of golf courses and parks in Ohio has shown conclusively that perching songbirds, which include more than half of all bird species, benefit from golf courses, even to the extent that golf courses may be described as bird sanctuaries
Physical & Mental Health and relief from stress
Hospital patients who were provided with an outdoor view of nature recovered more quickly than patients whose rooms viewed a hospital wing.
''Two surveys of parents of children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder have shown that performing activities in green setting can reduce the symptoms of AD/HD.''
Reduced Pest & Allergy Related Problems
Exposure to a number of serious human diseases is facilitated by insects... a closely mowed lawn around residences offers a less favorable habitat for unwanted nuisance insects and disease vectors.
Turfgrass also minimizes allergy-related pollens that cause human discomfor and potentially serious health concerns to susceptible individuals. Common allergies such as tree pollens, dust mites and molds are prevalent in everyday life. Regularly mowed turfgrass does not produce seed and therefore minimizes the likelihood of some allergy-realted problems that are more likely witha tall grasses and other plants.
Noise Abatement, Heat & Glare Reduction and Productivity
In their 2002 newsletter the University of California, Riverside Turfgrass research Progrma, carried the headline "Turf Protects the Environment, Benefits Health". They reported that psychologists who studied "people-plant" interactions quantify their results by testing blood pressure and heart rate to document the health benefits of "nearby nature"(Turf and mixed landscapes and natural settings)
Economic & Community Benefits
While many kinds of home improvement add value to a home, only landscaping appreaciates over time. So like a fine wine, good landscaping matures and grows in value, adding money to a property's bottom line long after contractor leaves the site.