2 minute read
Lawns are eco-warriors
Living lawns are true
eco-warriers
Creeping bent sequestered the most CO2 but is not widely grown in the UK. Red fescue and perennial ryegrass are a close second and third and are the main constituents in most UK lawns and seed mixtures.
A decade of scientific research by Johnsons Lawn Seed shows that garden lawns pack a powerful environmental punch
Even though garden lawns might be looking a bit parched right now, they and other grassy areas, still play a vitally important role in producing oxygen and storing carbon, especially in urban areas.
“Fast growing, relatively easy to maintain and with excellent CO2 sequestration properties, the environmental benefits of natural grasses are huge and should be considered by urban planners and property developers who care about the planet and want to meet their sustainability commitments” says Guy Jenkins Consumer Manager at Johnsons Lawn Seed.
At its grass breeding facility near Angers, in France, Johnson’s parent company DLF has been researching the value and benefits of living lawns. It has recorded qualities from carbon sequestration to air purification and flood mitigation.
Environmental benefits
Research has found that 1ha of grass can produce enough oxygen for 150 people, while also filtering dust and other particles from the air. It also guards against soil erosion and helps prevent flash flooding and excess water runoff by filtering water slowly. This is in contrast to water damage and localised flooding seen where gardens have been concreted over or replaced with artificial turf.
Grass surfaces can also be significantly cooler than hard standing helping regulate ground and air temperatures, but they are also efficient at capturing CO2 through their leaves and storing it through their roots. In fact, Johnsons found that 100m2 of grass sequestrates 336kgs of carbon into the soil each year which is more than the same area of trees.
The speed at which grass can grow and the surface area it covers makes it a carbon capture hero of the plant world.
“We are seeing far too much concrete, plastic and other manmade materials covering outdoor spaces – not only is this contributing to the increasing flood hazard in many areas, but it is also greatly limiting our ability to control atmospheric CO2,” says Guy.
A 100sqft lawn
will supply enough oxygen for four people. 80% of a grass plant
is roots, helping stabilise soil structure and prevent erosion during heavy rain.
