For some people, the "yard" is a hobby, for others, it's a necessary evil. For most, it's just a part of the house that needs to look nice and be maintained. Landscaping is a creative expression that should reflect the taste and character of the homeowner, but the grass is, well--grass. Right? Well, not so fast. Here are some facinating facts about grass that are very surprising to learn:
The average healthy lawn produces enough oxygen for a family of four. It also absorbs Carbon Dioxide and a variety of polluting gasses.
A 10,000 square foot lawn contains approximately 8.5 million grass plants.
The front lawns of 8 average houses have the same cooling effect as 24, 3 to 4 ton air conditioning units.
Turf Grasses trap an estimated 12 Million Tons of dust and dirt released annually into the atmosphere over the United States.
The root mass and associated soil microbes of Turf Grasses filter and purify water entering underground aquifers.
Grass Plants are 70-80% water. Clippings are 90% water.
A dense lawn is 6 times more efficient than a wheat field and 4 times better than a hay field at absorbing rainfall.
The grass and trees along the U.S. Interstate Highway System release enough Oxygen to support 22 million people.
Grass is the best and most cost effective form of erosion control available.
There are 20 Million Acres of residential lawn in the United States, covering more land area than any single crop grown.
Sources for this information include The Texas AgriLife Extension Service, The Michigan Department of Agriculture, The Lawn Institute and The National Wildlife Federation.