Have you ever wondered why Americans have such an obsession with their lawns?  The obvious answer is because of the aesthetic qualities that a well maintained lawn can add to your home or business.  Believe it or not, that beautiful lawn actually performs many other functions that can improve everyone’s quality of life.

What a well maintained, fertilized lawn does that's Eco-Friendly:

• Soil erosion- a dense healthy lawn uses it’s roots to hold your ground
• Dust prevention- thick lawns keep dust from entering the air and out of our lungs, homes, and waterways
• Heat dissipation- surfaces covered with natural vegetation can greatly reduce surface air temperatures
• Noise reduction- just like carpet in a home, healthy lawns can absorb noise
• Air pollution- CO₂   is absorbed and filtered during active growing periods, and oxygen is released
• Nuisance animal reduction- mowing lawns on a regular basis will keep unwanted animals such away
• Low cost surface- compared to some other possible exterior surfaces, lawns are relatively inexpensive
• Physical/Mental Health- Lawns provide areas for recreation, sport, exercise, and relaxation. 
• Safety- A dense lawn can act as a cushion during recreational activities, providing safe landing for little (and sometimes big) ones!
• Aesthetics- a well manicured lawn can enhance a landscape and curb appeal
• Increased property value-  A well maintained lawn and landscape have been said to increase a properties value up to 15%!
• Compliments trees and shrubs- high quality lawn care will enhance the beauty of other landscape components such as trees, shrubs, and perennials
• Quality of life- when all of the above benefits are put together, the quality of life for homeowners, a neighborhood, and a community are all increased.

Keep these benefits in mind next time you think you are “just mowing the grass.”  Our lawns are much more than “just grass.”

Author: Andrew Muntz received his Master’s of Science in Turfgrass science and his Bachelors of Science in Landscape Horticulture at The Ohio State University, Columbus OH.