Although lawns have a lot of great benefits to our quality of life, one benefit that is often forgotten is that a lawn properly maintained by a lawn care company can reduce surface temperatures.  Professional lawn care in Cleveland or Columbus will reduce air temperatures in a given area, during our hot and humid Ohio summers.

Heat dissipation is possible in your lawn because of the biological process known as transpiration.  Lawns in areas like Cleveland and Columbus Ohio, will perform at their best when air temperatures are between about 60-77º F.  When temperatures rise above the optimum temperatures, plants such as turfgrasses will begin to transpire similar to a human sweating.  This allows the plant to cool and maintain it’s biological functions.  When a plant is transpiring, it also causes the surrounding areas to cool.  This creates a more enjoyable place for everybody to live during those hot summer days!

A lot of research has been done recently to monitor the surface temperatures on synthetic athletic fields as compared to natural turfgrass areas.  To give you an idea of the difference that natural grass can make, it has been seen that natural lawns have between 35-55º F, lower surface temperatures than the modern synthetic field.  The highest recorded temperature on an artificial field was 200º F!  One study recorded a synthetic field at 117º F, adjacent asphalt at 110º F and near-by natural grass at 78º F. 

Of course the best way to ensure your lawn is transpiring and functioning properly is to maintain it with fertilizer, water, mowing, and other proper cultural practices.  When your lawn is functioning at its best, your home will be the “cool” place to be this summer!

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.