Grass Facts

What is the purpose of grass?

• Well-maintained turf areas serve as excellent sports surfaces. Turf helps to absorb physical impact and reduce injuries. As a playing surface it is safer than artificial grass or bare soil. Based on NFL injury data collected from 2012 to 2018, not only was the contact injury rate higher during practices and games held on artificial turf, but football players consistently experienced a 69% higher rate of non-contact injuries to feet and ankles on turfgrass compared to natural surfaces. Some professional sports teams have even refused to play on artificial turf due to safety concerns.
• Green spaces also provide mental health benefits. Research conducted in urban spaces found that adults who can view green spaces from home have a lower risk of anxiety and depression. Some data also suggests that patients staying in hospital rooms with a view of nature reported higher satisfaction and perception of care, which may correlate to decreased stress and reduced length of stay compared to patients with urban views.
• No wonder so many people use landscape pictures as screen savers on computers. It has been shown that looking at images of landscapes and plants helps to reduce stress. Grassy areas in golf courses, cemeteries, parks, and homes can create feelings of peacefulness and safety.
• Grassy areas offer opportunities for exercise like yoga, frisbee, and flying kites which further benefits physical and mental health. Not only that, but lawns and sports fields can function as additional seating areas for picnics, BBQs, and special events.

Even a plant just a few centimeters tall can have a huge impact on health, wellness, and safety.

Environmental Benefits of Turf and Climate Change

• “Urban heat islands” occur when natural land cover is replaced with concrete, asphalt, and other surfaces that absorb and retain heat. This in turn effect increases electricity usage for air conditioners, air pollution, and heat-related illness and mortality.
• Climate change will likely lead to more frequent, more severe, and longer heat waves during summer months. However, turf serves as a natural air-conditioner. On a hot day, compare the difference between standing on pavement and standing on grass. The difference in temperature and comfort is measurable. The turf on healthy lawns can be 30°C cooler than pavement, 20°C cooler than artificial turf, and 10°C cooler than bare soil.
• Climate change can also affect the intensity and frequency of precipitation, which may lead to flooding in some regions. Healthy lawns can help buffer the negative effects of heavier rain and snowstorms. Not only does grass slow down water and soil runoff, but it also protects surface water quality as it filters and cleans the water percolating into streams, drainage systems and aquifers.
• Since turf promotes water percolation rather than runoff, it is a very efficient and inexpensive tool to prevent erosion. Our streams and drainage infrastructure would be absolutely overwhelmed if not for the water-retention capabilities of lawns and grassy areas.
• Grass plants capture and use greenhouse gases, thereby combatting climate change. Turf also traps air pollution and generates much of the oxygen we breathe. A 50- by 50-foot lawn produces enough oxygen for a family of four to breathe in a day. Turf can also act as a natural barrier that deters chemicals from entering the soil profile.
• The natural shedding of turf stems and leaves, as well as mowing clippings left on the lawn contribute large amounts of valuable organic matter to the soil over several years.
• Grassy areas can decrease noise by eight to 10 decibels. This is especially important in an urban location.
• Turf traps dust and smoke particles from the air and acts as a filter for the air we breathe. This is particularly important in urban areas where dust generated by cars and trucks can be trapped and washed down into the soil, preventing further movement. If you’ve ever passed by an active construction site, you will know just how dusty it can be.
• Pollutants, such as hydrocarbons and heavy metals, often end up in our soil and are detrimental to the health of people, plants, and animals. These substances can be broken down by microorganisms in the soil. Healthy turf stands have an extensively fibrous root system, which provides a habitat and energy source for microorganisms, allowing them to be more productive than they would in the absence of turf grass.

Careers in Turfgrass

Turf management is a growing industry, literally and figuratively!

Globally, the turfgrass industry is serving more than 700,000 professional athletic fields, over 30,000 golf courses, and the turfgrass industry is expanding all over the world. According to a survey (link to LO report), there are more than 30,000 jobs in landscaping services in Ontario alone.

Turf management can also lead to:

• Municipal parks and recreation management
• Sports turf management
• Lawn care operations
• Landscaping, architecture, and design
• Horticulture
• Gardening
• Arboriculture
• Sod farming

Turf Managers are also:

• Gardeners, horticulturalists, and arborists
• Managers of buildings and facilities
• Stewards of wildlife and animal habitat
• Stewards of sustainable landscapes
• Mechanics, carpenters, electricians, and plumbers
• Business managers
• Landscape designers

Turfgrass provides us with a place to play, socialize, and exercise and the maintenance of this green surface is a multi-billion-dollar industry.

Interested in a career in turf? Learn more about the educational programs offered by the University of Guelph and the Guelph Turfgrass Institute.