Posted on November 6th, 2015
Did you know that grass gets its famous green allure from the presence of a bright pigment called chlorophyll? When the sunlight hits the plant, chlorophyll works to absorb blue and red light and reflect green light, which is what gives your lawn that bright green glow. Impressed? Here are some more facts you might not know about your favorite backyard plant:
Fact #1: The total amount of grass spanning the United States adds up to about 46.5 million acres. That’s over 20% of the Earth’s total vegetation.
Fact #2: A single blade of grass can have as many as 390 miles of roots and up to 90% of a grass plant’s weight is made up of its roots.
Fact #3: The scent that you smell after cutting grass is actually the plant releasing a chemical defense meant to protect and heal itself.
Fact #4: There are over 10,000 types of grass species in the world with some dating as far back as 200,000 years ago.
Fact #5: While crabgrass is considered by many to be a type of grass, it’s name is actually a misnomer since crabgrass is actually a weed and not a grass type at all.
Fact #6: Lawns that have been sodded absorb 10 times more water than seeded lawns, which is why they tend to keep their green glow for longer.
Fact #7: Studies have shown that the presence of a grassy view can help positively affect people’s moods and help those that are sick have a swifter recovery.
Fact #8: While you probably know all about how plants produce oxygen as a byproduct of photosynthesis, you might not know that a 50 square foot yard produces enough oxygen to support a family of four.
Fact #9: A standard lawn has about 6 individual grass plants per square inch, which means there can be millions of grass plants making up a single lawn.
Fact #10: The average American spends 4 hours per week taking care of their lawn, which adds up to 208 hours per year.
Can you think of any more interesting facts about grass that we forgot? We’d love to hear about them on our Facebook page!
Turf Unlimited is a full service lawn care provider, offering a wide variety of lawn care, fertilization, and pest and weed control services to the Massachusetts or New Hampshire area. For more information about our services call 888-649-9919 and schedule your free, in-home estimate today.
