April is National Lawn Care Month

Published April 1, 2004

With the coming of spring, most golf course superintendents have plenty to keep them busy at their courses.

But that doesn't mean they're the only ones worrying about turf. According to the Professional Lawn Care Association of America, warm weather, green grass and flowering plants make April the ideal time to celebrate the benefits of turf.

To observe the importance of lawns, PLCAA has designated this National Lawn Care Month.

The association says a newly-released survey conducted by Harris Interactive reports that more than 24.7 million U.S. households spent $28.9 billion on professional landscape, lawn care and tree care services in 2002--an increase of nearly one million in the number of households using these services and a $3 billion rise in spending over the previous year.

"Those figures are expected to continue to grow, especially in light of the fact that many Americans are spending more and more time at home and investing in their homes," said Gary Clayton, executive vice president of the Professional Lawn Care Association of America.

And, it's a worthwhile investment according to PLCAA. A healthy, well-maintained lawn can increase a property's value by 5 to 15 percent. But the numbers only tell part of the lawn care story.

Like a golf course, a healthy, well-maintained lawn provides environmental benefits including:

Oxygen Production. Oxygen generation by turf has a major impact on our environment. A 50' by 50' lawn produces enough oxygen for a family of four.

Cooling Effect. Grass is a natural air conditioner. Eight healthy front lawns have the cooling effect of 70 tons of air conditioningenough for 16 average homes.

Pollution Control. Dust and smoke particles from the atmosphere are trapped by turf, which helps keep the air cleaner. Grass also converts carbon dioxide to oxygen, a process that helps clean the air.

Water Quality. Dense, healthy grass slows and filters runoff, removing contaminants and trapping soil. Fresh, filtered water returns to the underground water supply.

To get PLCAA's brochure "The ABC's of Lawn & Turf Benefits," send an email to mailto:plcaa@plcaa.org, or send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: PLCAA, 1000 Johnson Ferry Road, NE, Suite C-135, Marietta, GA 30068. Also available is "What You Should Know About Lawn Care Products and Services." Request the free brochures by name.

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