Lawns have always been an integral part of the Quebec landscape. Few homes or parks do not have a grassy area. Lawns have often been accused of being water and nutrient intensive monocultures, of being useful for aesthetic purposes only, of being a relic of ancient times… Is the lawn a bad plant? Absolutely not! Durable, that is to say, not perfect in appearance, and healthy, properly maintained and with a nice diversification, lawns are without a doubt the best ground cover for many situations.
Benefits of lawns
Of course, a beautiful, dense, green lawn with perennial beds, trees and shrubs adds a lot of charm to a home. But the value of a lawn goes far beyond its beauty. In fact, a well-established and properly maintained lawn has many benefits for human health and the environment.
Air purification
Like all plants, lawns, which are made of different types of grass, absorb CO2 and release oxygen into the atmosphere through the process of photosynthesis. Studies estimate that a 2,500 square foot lawn produces enough oxygen in one year to meet the needs of a family of four.
In addition, grass blades capture and trap pollutants and dust from the air to purify it. In urban areas, this is a significant benefit to air quality.
Water management
The lawn is the ground cover plant with the densest and most efficient root system. A grassy surface slows down rainwater runoff and allows it to better penetrate the soil rather than being transported to municipal sewer systems.
The density of its roots also allows grass to retain soil particles, which reduces erosion, and to retain many pollutants that do not end up in Quebec’s waterways.
Decrease in ambient temperature
A surface covered with grass brings coolness to the environment. The temperature felt on a lawn-covered surface can be up to 14ºC lower than on a paved surface. Green spaces are an excellent way to effectively combat heat islands and do your part in the fight against climate change.
Safe playing surface
Whether it’s for soccer games or simply for outings to the park, cool, natural grass absorbs impact. It offers good traction and is very tolerant to trampling.
Even for your family picnics, lawns are second to none.
What about maintenance?
Lawns don’t have to be perfect to fulfill their environmental role. The quest for an immaculate green carpet, without a trace of so-called unwanted plants, is not only futile, but unnecessary. Diversified lawns, with a certain percentage of less desirable plants, are more tolerant to drought and insect attacks. They require fewer inputs to maintain their appearance, and they perform their environmental and beneficial roles perfectly. You need to increase your tolerance level and look for healthy and sustainable lawns, not perfect lawns!
Do you have a lawn at home? Great! Do you maintain it carefully to keep it healthy and beautiful? That’s even better! Your Nutrite Expert can help you give your lawn the best possible care so that it can contribute even more to your health and that of our planet.
