Importance of Grass

Residential

• According to a 2007 survey by the National Gardening Association, most homeowners are convinced that landscaping adds an increased value of 10 to 19 percent, which results in higher property values and asking prices. Ninety-four percent of those surveyed stated that landscaping was not only important for resale value, but also increased the overall attractiveness of the neighborhood and cast the homeowner in a positive light. It's no wonder that Broderick Perkins of Realtor.com noted, "America spends nearly $40 billion a year growing a 'crop' it can't eat, wear, export, or, well, smoke."

Sports Fields

• On athletic playing fields, natural grass is easier and more cost-effective to install than artificial turf fields. It also lasts up to five years longer (15 versus 10 years for turf fields). In addition, natural grass fields are easier and more cost-effective to maintain, remove and dispose of. Natural grass fields are also cooler than artificial surfaces, which can reach temperatures of 150 degrees Fahrenheit and may produce heat exhaustion and dehydration.

Environment

• Grass captures and eliminates water impurities, as well as dust and other airborne pollutants. In fact, landscaped grass can eliminate over 12 million tons of allergens. It also shields the soil from water and wind erosion and reduces water runoff --- effectively preventing sewage overflow. Grass also produces oxygen, and in the summer, it deflects heat, which cools the overall temperature by several degrees, as opposed to concrete and asphalt, which absorb heat and raise the overall temperature of the environment.

Food

• Grass is eaten as food by many insects and animals. Sheep, cows, goats, deer and giraffes are among the animals that graze in grasslands. Humans consume some species of grasses. Wheat, corn and rice are types of grasses used in the production of basic food staples in many parts of the world. Wheat is used to produce flour, which is then used for everything from crackers and pasta to the 3 billion pizzas sold annually in the United States.