April 10th

By Mutt Mulligan

April is National Lawn Care Month

April is National Lawn Care Month (#LawnCareMonth), sponsored by the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP). TurfMutt loves any excuse to celebrate our living landscapes! He knows they play a vital role in the health of our environment, our communities, and our families.

Lawns and yards, parks, and landscapes around community spaces provide many health, wellness and environmental benefits. You can help by choosing the right kinds of trees, shrubs, grasses and flowering plants as you’re planning your spring planting this year.

Here are just a few benefits of the outdoors:

• Lawns can make you happier! Our stress levels fall within minutes of seeing green spaces. Knowing and experiencing nature makes us generally happier, healthier people.

• Getting dirty is good for you! Mycobacterium vaccae in soil mirrors the effect on neurons that Prozac provides. Give kids a pair of gardening gloves and have them work with you in your green spaces for a hefty dose of Vitamin N(ature) and G(reen).

• Lawns give pets & kids a safe place to play! Whether your dog likes to sleep in the shade, romp in the grass, or play fetch in the backyard with your kids – living landscapes enhance the lifestyle of the entire family.

Check out this infographic for more health and well-being benefits of living landscapes. To learn more about the benefits of planting something green this spring, go to www.LivingLandscapesMatter.com.