October 19th

By Mutt Mulligan

Living landscapes offer year-round benefits

It’s fall, which (depending on where you live) means you might be putting away your lawn equipment for the season. But just because yard care isn’t on the top of your “to do” list doesn’t mean your living landscapes aren’t continuing to work for you!

Living landscapes – your grass, trees, shrubs and flowering plants – provide important health and environmental benefits throughout the year. In fact, your green space keeps working for you, even when you’re sleeping!

Here are just a few of the benefits of a living landscape. To learn more visit LivingLandscapesMatter.com.

Combats global warming.
Turfgrass is the largest carbon sink in the country, telling Carbon Creep to take a hike. Grasses remove about 6 tons of carbon dioxide per acre per year from the atmosphere. It is estimated that up to 800 pounds of carbon per acre is sequestered by turfgrass each year. That’s almost a half a ton per acre! You can even help your yard trap more carbon by leaving grass clippings on your lawn.

Makes oxygen & cleans the air.
Your lawn is an oxygen-producing machine! A turf area of 50 square feet will produce enough oxygen to meet the daily needs of a family of four. Also, research has shown that turfgrasses remove atmospheric pollutants such as carbon dioxide, ozone, hydrogen fluoride, and perosyzacetyle nitrate from the air. Grass also plays a vital role in capturing dust, smoke particles and other harmful pollutants.

Controls water runoff and erosion.
Your lawn works like a sponge to trap water and prevent it from “running off” into area sewer drains, carrying trash, oil and dirt with it along the way. It also prevents flooding and soil erosion. Your spongy lawn cleanses the water it collects and breaks down harmful microbes and pollutants, keeping them out of the groundwater supply.

Serves as a fire break.
Living grass is the best natural fire break. Green grass retards the spread of wildfires because of its low fuel value, and it provides a defendable space around structures where firefighters can work effectively.

Reduces noise pollution.
Grass cuts down on excessive sound. It’s a growing problem in urban areas, where hardscape and pavement reverberate sound. In fact, grass slopes alongside lowered expressways reduce noise 8-10 decibels.