The Environmental Benefits of Your Lawn

Find out the 5 surprising ways your lawn helps improve the environment.

Lawns are for more than just looks. Maintaining a healthy, thick lawn also benefits the environment. Unlike hard surfaces such as concrete, asphalt, and wood, grass lawns help clean the air, trap carbon dioxide, reduce erosion from stormwater runoff, improve soil quality, decrease noise pollution, and reduce temperatures.

Let's take a look at the benefits of a grass lawn and dispel some common myths about lawns and the environment.

Lawns clean the air and trap CO₂.

Like all living plants, grass takes in carbon dioxide and releases oxygen. Oxygen is essential for human life, but trapping carbon dioxide is also crucial, as too much CO₂ can lead to elevated air temperatures and extreme weather events, as well as impact our ecosystems. Grass not only removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, but it also acts as a natural air purifier, trapping dust to keep it out of the air. Less dust blowing around also means easier breathing and cleaner homes.

Lawns trap stormwater runoff and reduce soil erosion.

If there's any area of your yard that isn't covered with lush lawn, you've witnessed what happens during a hard rain: the soil, mulch, or gravel washes away, creating ruts, divots, and holes. Of course, all of those materials—and all the water—have to go somewhere. They start by clogging the storm drains, potentially leading to flooded streets and houses, then eventually end up in creeks and lakes that become cloudy and polluted. Lawns act as a filter, with grass blades slowing runoff and root systems reducing erosion, which helps protect bodies of water from pollution and allows time for the stormwater to seep back into the groundwater system.

Lawns improve the soil structure.

Compacted soil (densely compressed soil without good structure) doesn't allow water to sink into it, which means that groundwater resources don't get replenished when it rains—and that can be a problem in areas that rely on precipitation for drinking water. If water cannot be absorbed into the soil, it will leave standing water—or puddles—on the surface. Having a healthy grass lawn will allow for the roots to grow deep into the soil profile, breaking up the soil so it's loose and porous and lets water sink in. Your grass clippings also help out by adding organic matter to the soil as they decompose, improving the soil's overall structure.

Lawns reduce noise pollution.

When you walk through a city or even a crowded suburban area, you may notice how loud it is compared to your neighborhood. That's because lots of hard surfaces equal lots of areas for sound to bounce off. One big benefit is that a lawn acts like a blanket or insulation panel, absorbing sounds from people, cars, trucks, and animals.

Lawns keep you cooler and may save you money.

Urban areas with lots of buildings and concrete tend to be significantly warmer than surrounding areas that have a lot more vegetation. What's more, it takes more energy to cool a building surrounded by concrete than it does one surrounded with grass. Not only will a lush lawn help keep your yard cooler, but you may pay less for your AC bill, too.

Common Lawn Myths

Lawns can have a positive impact on the environment and on people! Let's address a few lawn misconceptions and look at ways to help ensure you're doing right by your lawn and the environment.

Lawn Myth #1: Lawns are a monoculture and don't support biodiversity.

Where there's soil, there's life. Even in an all-grass lawn, all sorts of microorganisms and bugs are hard at work below and above the ground. Keep in mind that lawns are rarely just big patches of a single grass type—you've probably got mixed grasses, trees, shrubs, flowers, or even pesky weeds growing in and around your lawn. All these plants contribute to creating a more diverse ecosystem.

Lawn Myth #2: Lawn maintenance is bad for the environment, and lawns only look good if you put a ton of maintenance into them. It's just not worth it to maintain a grass lawn.

How you maintain your lawn is up to you (…and maybe your HOA). While you can have a high-maintenance lawn, you can also choose lower-maintenance options and adopt practices that can help increase your lawn's positive impact:

Low-maintenance turf alternatives. Choose native grasses or groundcovers like clover that require less watering, mowing, and feeding.
Drought-tolerant grass. Instead of using a grass with high water needs, choose something that'll survive drought and heat once it's established. Bermudagrass is a great option for the South, but you can check other common grass types and learn about their water needs here.
Electric or manual mowers. Using an electric or manual mower reduces the need for gas, which means fewer CO₂ emissions. Just remember that manual mowers will require more work on your part, and you'll want to do your research on electric mowers to make sure you get one that can handle your yard.
Good watering practices. Watering less frequently and more deeply can not only reduce your water bill, but actually encourages your grass to grow deeper roots. Also, take advantage of local rainfall and adjust your watering routine accordingly. If you've got a sprinkler system on a timer, take advantage of sleep or delay settings after a rainy day. Learn more about watering here.
Gardens. Maybe your entire yard doesn't need to be turf. Consider using a portion of your green space for in-ground or raised bed gardening. Not only can you create a more diverse ecosystem in your yard, but you'll reap the rewards of beautiful flowers and delicious home-grown produce.
Xeriscaping. If you live in a hot, dry climate, xeriscaping might be a great option for you. Xeriscaping is when you fill your landscape with drought-tolerant plants that won't need as much water or maintenance to survive the heat.

Lawn Myth #3: Lawn care products like fertilizer and pesticides are harmful and bad for the environment.

Fertilizer and pesticide products are highly regulated with well-established national and state standards designed to help protect the environment. As long as you're following label directions, you're good to go. You can always check with your local extension agency for best practices in your area. Here's some general best practices to follow:

Make sure product stays on the lawn and out of drainage ditches and waterways. Get in the habit of sweeping any product that lands on the driveway, sidewalk, or street back onto your lawn.
Follow label directions regarding watering. Some products need to be watered-in after application, but never water-in applicable products to the point of run-off.
Watch for rainfall. Heavy rainfall can wash away product, which means it's not helping your lawn and it's getting into waterways. It's best to wait until after the rain to apply lawn care products. Check your product label for specific instructions regarding rainfall.
Do NOT over-apply fertilizer. More is not better with fertilizer and can actually hurt your grass. Again, check those label directions. We recommend 4 feedings to your lawn per year, and many weed and feed products may only be used twice per year. You can also check with your local extension agency for regulations regarding fertilizer application.

That should clear up some of the confusion about lawns and the environment. We all want to do our part for a better, cleaner environment, so let's do it! Your lawn doesn't need to be a chore or wasteful—choose a thriving green space that you and your environment can enjoy.