THE GREAT AMERICAN LAWN

Most homeowners and other property owners already know that a beautiful landscape starts with a beautiful lawn. A beautiful lawn helps showcase your property and draw attention to your home, and what better way to gain relief from a stressful day than to stroll outdoors to the smell of freshly-mown grass.

Healthy lush lawns also give weeds little place to grow and add real value to your property – often as much as 12%! But did you know that your lawn also plays an important role in reducing greenhouse gases and protecting the environment? Your lawn is NOT just another pretty place; it also performs all these jobs:

• Purifies the air. An acre of flourishing grass absorbs hundreds of pounds of sulfur dioxide and other airborne pollutants every year; thus helping to reduce smog and respiratory irritants.  Additionally, lawns filter dust and pollen; cutting down on wheezing and sneezing from allergies!
• Generates oxygen. Grass is such an efficient carbon dioxide/oxygen converter than an area just 50 feet by 50 feet generates enough oxygen to meet the needs of a family of four.
• Sequesters carbon and builds healthy soils: Green plants such as grass use the process of photosynthesis to process carbon dioxide from the air into oxygen and organic material.  With the help of sunshine, water and proper nutrients, the carbon removed from the carbon dioxide is formed into all manner of food and plant tissue to support the plant.  These new organic compounds find their way into the soil as the plants naturally complete their life cycle.  This organic matter forms the building block of healthy topsoil.  The carbon removed from our air helps to reduce the pollution that surrounds the places we live, work and play.   
• Conserves and purifies water. Grass traps and holds rainfall better than most surfaces, thereby reducing water loss by runoff while enhancing the potential for groundwater recharge. It purifies water entering underground aquifers as root mass and soil microbes capture and breakdown many types of pollutants. Healthy turf also helps to lock up nitrogen and phosphorous in the root zone, preventing these elements from leaching down into the groundwater. Believe it or not, lawns that are properly maintained and fertilized absorb more water and capture more pollutants than unfertilized lawns. 
• More benefits. Healthy grass also moderates temperature, increases soil fertility, and works to abate noise, control pests, and prevent and control fires. All of this in addition to being aesthetically appealing, physiologically and psychologically beneficial, and a requisite for recreation areas. Lawns provide a safe place to play for families and children.  For example, an egg dropped ten feet onto two inches of healthy grass will land cushioned and not break.

The key unlocking the benefits of a healthy lawn is proper care; fertilization, mowing, watering and protection from weeds and insects. As stewards of the environment, members of the National Association of Landscape Professionals have the knowledge and experience to ensure your lawn provides all the above benefits…. and more.