Grass benefits environment

UNDER THE growing
pressures of pollution,
noise, and_ urbanization,
green grass and landscaping
have become increasingly
- important to sustaining and
improving our environment
and our lives.

In these days of increasing en-
vironmental awareness, people
should recognize the benefits
received from grass in addition to
its esthetic value.

Here are some of tae other im-
portant benefits of grass:

The oxygen giver:

Let’s start with the basics. An
ever-renewed supply of cxygen is
essential to life itself.

Through photosynthesis, grass
plants remove carbon dioxide
from the air and release oxygen.

' Only 625 square feet of grass is
needed to produce enough oxygen
for one person each day during
the growing season. .

This means that the average
homeowner’s lawn of 5,000 square
feet can supply the oxygen needs
of eight people.

Air purification:

The leaves of grass plants ab-
sorb air pollutants.

In a year’s time, an acre of
flourishing lawn can absorb hun-
dreds of pounds of common at-
mospheric pollutants such as
sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide
— the same pollutants implicated

in acid rain and ‘the greenhouse

effect, respectively.
Soil erosion control:
Grass is one of the most cost-

effective ways to control wind and -

water erosion of the soil, as well
as.eliminate dust and mud prob-
lems.:

Essentially, grass controls ero-
sion’ by trapping and holding
runoff water.

A healthy lawn absorbs rainfall
six times more effectively than a
wheat field and four times better
than a hay field.

is it any wonder that grass is
used alongside highways and air-

port runways to stabilize soil,

prevent dust, and control water
‘runoff?
Grasses bind the soil more ef-
fectively than any other plant.
Dust trapping: :

Grass slows the air and allows
dust particles to settle on the
leaves.

Eventually rain will wash the
dust back into the ground. Grass
traps millions of tons of dust and
dirt released into the atmosphere
every year.

By reducing dust, we improve
overall lung health, plus increase
visibility (dust haze over our cities
now reduces sunlight by as much
as 15%).

Heat reduction:

Every child knows that when
it’s too hot to walk barefoot on
the sidewalk, the grass is a cool
and inviting alternative.

Studies have shown that when
the temperature of a sidewalk or
Street exceeds 100°F, the grass
surface remains at a cool 75°F.

That’s quite an air conditioning
system! Compared to air condi-

tioners, the front lawns on a block .-

of eight houses have a combined
cooling effect of about 70 tons of
air conditioning.

Noise reduction:

The harshness of unwanted
noise is lessened by the sound-
deadening qualities of grass.

A. grass-covered slope will
deflect and absorb sound.

When combined with evergreens
or deciduous trees, grass can help
reduce the roar of traffic to a dis-
tant murmur,

Pest control:

Who knows what lurks in the
tall weeds or deep woods? When
properly mowed, residential lawns
are unsuitable homes for pests like
rodents, snakes, mosquitos, ticks
and chiggers,

Also, by keeping weeds out, the
levels of allergy-causirg pollens

are reduced.

Mown : grass does, however,
provide birds with easy access to
earthworms and other food.

Glare reduction:

Grass plants filter glare because
they reflect light diffusely, unlike
smooth or hard surfaces like con-
crete buildings, streets and side-
watks. _

Glare is not only uncomfort-
able, but it can be hazardous for
drivers and pilots.

For these reasons, higher-cut
grass along roadsides eliminates
glare thereby allowing drivers to
identify an emergency need to
stop.

Qo BEAUTY...

Recreational enjoyment and
safety:

While performing all of these
practical services, grass is fun to
play on.

It feels good to walk on.

Its resiliency helps keep athletes’
legs healthy and reduces the like-
lihood of serious injury when used
on playing fields.

Property enhancement:

As for the homeowner, in a
survey real estate agents said that
a well-maintained lawn would add
an average of 40% to the resale
value of a home.

The future:

As the availability of land
Shrinks under the rapidly growing
population, it has been suggested
that perhaps grass should be
planted on rooftops to reduce
temperatures, pollutants, and
storm water runoff,

Or perhaps as people begin to
realize its value, grass will grow in
planned greenbelts in new deve!-
opments.

But regardless of where it is
found, grass will continue to
benefit our lives in its quiet, effi-
cient way.

Friday, April 24, 1992 — North Shore News - 23

- Residential &
Commercial
Cleaning Services

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