Benefits of Healthy Grass
A healthy, green lawn is often admired for its appearance — but beneath the surface, grass provides a wide range of environmental and human health benefits. Here’s how the grass under your feet is working hard for you and the planet:
Cleans the Air
Like all plants, turfgrass absorbs carbon dioxide during photosynthesis and releases life-sustaining oxygen into the atmosphere. Each blade of grass contributes to cleaner, healthier air.
Captures Carbon
According to Dr. Thomas Watschke, author of The Environmental Benefits of Turfgrass and Their Impact on the Greenhouse Effect, “the strategic use of turfgrass is the most sensible and economically feasible approach to countering the greenhouse effect in urban areas.”
Here are some quick turf and carbon facts:
- A healthy, average-sized lawn can capture up to 300 pounds of carbon per year
- A golf course fairway can sequester approximately 1,500 pounds per year
- A soccer field can offset the carbon emissions from a car driving 3,000 miles
Filters Pollution
Dense, healthy turfgrass plays an important role in protecting water quality. Its fibrous root system stabilizes soil, reduces erosion, and prevents sediment from entering streams and rivers. Turf also filters pollutants from stormwater, preventing contaminants from reaching groundwater or escaping into surface runoff. By slowing the flow of rainwater, turfgrass allows more water to be absorbed into the ground, reducing the risk of flooding.
Reduces Noise
Turfgrass has a surprising superpower — it absorbs sound. Studies show that grass-covered landscapes can significantly reduce noise pollution, making outdoor spaces more peaceful and livable.
Cools the Environment
On a hot summer day, well-maintained turfgrass stays cool — up to 30°F cooler than asphalt and 14°F cooler than bare soil. In fact, the California Energy Commission found that the cooling effect of an average-sized lawn is equivalent to about nine tons of air conditioning — more than double the output of most home AC units.
Promotes Wellness and Reduces Stress
Green spaces have been proven to boost mental and physical health. Research shows that being around plants can:
- Lower blood pressure
- Reduce muscle tension related to stress
- Improve focus and attention
- Decrease feelings of fear, anger, and aggression
People recovering from illness heal faster, and those living or working near lawns and natural views experience lower stress levels than those with only urban views. Additionally, access to green space has been linked to increased workplace productivity.
Benefits Communities
Lawns and green spaces enhance the beauty and value of neighborhoods. But they also promote stronger, safer communities. Research shows that:
- Residents in landscaped areas are more likely to know their neighbors and engage socially
- Communities with trees and turfgrass experience lower crime rates, fewer domestic violence calls, and reduced instances of child abuse
Grass Is More Than Just Green
While it may seem like a simple feature of the landscape, turfgrass is a powerful contributor to environmental health, individual well-being, and community strength. Maintaining a healthy lawn is more than a cosmetic choice — it’s a meaningful investment in a cleaner, cooler, and more connected world.
Discover the Power of Green Spaces
Green spaces do more than just beautify our neighborhoods – they help clean the air we breathe, cool our cities, reduce carbon levels, and promote healthier, more connected communities. Lawns, trees, and shrubs may seem simple, but together, they form powerful natural systems that benefit both people and the planet.
To help you understand the impact of your own green space, Project EverGreen invites you to explore the Clean Air Calculator™ – a free, web-based tool that measures the environmental benefits of green spaces on your property.
Whether you’re a homeowner, landscape professional, golf course superintendent, sports field or park manager, or property owner, this innovative tool makes it easy to see the real-world impact of the green spaces you care for.
See how your green space makes a difference. Try the Clean Air Calculator today:
https://projectevergreen.org/clean-air-calculator/
