How Green is Turf?

The best way to reduce pollution in and around your home  is to install a giant filter around your house that eliminates  dust and pollen, filters the rain water, reduces CO2 emissions, purifies the air you breathe and uses no energy. That would be a healthy, thriving St Augustine Lawn!

Air Purifying

We all know that that green plants absorb carbon dioxide and releases oxygen. But did you know that unless the plant is healthy – enough food, water and light – the plant does the opposite – using oxygen and producing carbon dioxide? Lawn spraying is a way to keep your turf healthy – absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen.

Dust and Pollen

Turf filters out dust and pollen. As air passes over healthy turf, the wind speed is slowed near the canopy causing the “load” (dust, pollen and other eye burning things) to be deposited in the turf. This “dust” contains organic and mineral nutrients the turf will recycle and utilize for growth. A weedy, thin turf will cause more dust and pollen than it will recycle.

Cooling the Earth

Turf is a shading insulating blanket on the face of the earth. A thick turf intercepts 99.99% or all sunlight before it reaches the soil. While absorbing sunlight can produce heat, the plant “cools” by  “sweating” – the end result is cooler day and night air temperatures. In addition to the cooling effect, the turf is good insulation. A healthy turf has has small pockets of still air that keep soil temperatures moderate. (Note: At 2:00 PM in August where is it comfortable to walk barefoot - Beach or Turf?)

Water Conserving

A healthy turf conserves soil and water. When it rains here in Pinellas County, it can rain quickly and with great force. Turf is  a perfect solution to stop erosion and capture heavy rains. Heavy rains cannot move quickly in turf increasing soil infiltration of water (less runoff) and recuing soil erosion. Alternatives to turf – like mulch – are not rooted (anchored) and often  leave with rains via the open drains on your street. Lawn spraying ensures deeply rooted turf with thick dense water slowing canopies.

Organic Filter

Turf is actually a type of organic composting called “sheet composting” – the composting of organic and inorganic materials in a thin layer. Within the turf there is a very active biological layer, recycling organic and inorganic materials by enzymatic digestion into plant food. It is as if all that lands in the turf is broken down, organically processed and returned to the earth – naturally! Lawn spraying keeps the compost healthy and active so it can do its job!

Summary

An average interior lot in Pinellas County has about 5000 sq ft suitable for turf. That 5000 sq ft can be a hot, dusty, pollen filled carbon dioxide producing  eyesore where raw pollutants and topsoil flow into the Gulf of Mexico with every thunderstorm. Or it can be an attractive air purifying, dust and pollen reducing, cooling, water conservation pollution control landscape.  Healthy turf is very “green” and does not come by accident – it requires effort and the reward for your effort is a healthy environment for you and your family.