Grass is everywhere! It’s in our parks, at our homes and in fields where our food grows. But there are some facts about grass that you probably don’t know! Test your turfgrass knowledge and see which facts you do and don’t know.
Fact 1 – 1 Acre of Grass (4,047m2) Will Supply Enough Oxygen for 64 People a Day!
This accounts to 63m2 creating enough oxygen for one person per day (Maryland Agricultural Statics Service). This is far greater than trees, where 1 acre will produce enough oxygen for 18 people per day (Growing Air Foundation).
Fact 2 – Wheat is a Type of Grass!
Wheat, the most widely grown crop in the world is actually a type of grass! All grains, including rice, corn and oats are all examples of different grass types.
Fact 3 – The Leaf of Grass is Made up of Around 75% – 85% Water
Grass is mostly made up of water! This is similar to selected veggies and other plants, with lettuce up to 96% water, celery and tomatoes being 95% water and cauliflower 92% water.
Fact 4 – The Temperature on a Natural Green Lawn in Summer Can Be 10 Degrees Less than Bare Soil, 20 Degrees Less than Asphalt, Concrete or Pebbles and 40 Degrees Less than Synthetic Grass!
You want your home to be as cool as possible on hot summer days. A natural turf surface can significantly help cool your home! On a 28-degree day in Sydney, a synthetic sports field measured a whopping 88 degrees, posing serious health hazards (Turf Australia).
Fact 5 – There are Currently 11,500 Accepted Species of Grass.
Another estimated 1,500 species of grass taxonomists (biologists who group organisms into categories) have yet to be added to this list as it is still considered a work in progress (National Museum of Natural History).
Fact 6 – Zoysia Grasses Have More Genetic Diversity that a Plant Breeder Can Use to Create New Grasses Compared to Other Grasses like Buffalo.
Zoysia grasses have around 600 unique Zoysia plants that have been collected from across the world. These 600 grasses are used as the foundation for breeding new Zoysia grasses. Whereas buffalo grasses have around 30-40 plants to create new buffalo grasses.
Fact 7 – Pink Flamingos Are the Most Popular Lawn Decoration
Did you know that around 250,000 pink flamingo lawn decorations are sold each year? Although these are not a common decoration here in Australia, they are more commonly found on lawns across the United States.
Fact 8 – Frank J. Scott Wrote the First Lawn Care Book in 1870
The first lawn care book, The Art of Beautifying a Suburban Home Grounds, was written by Frank J. Scott, in New York, USA. This book has more recently been selected by scholars as being culturally significant, therefore it has been preserved, reproduced and is generally available to the public.
Fact 9 – Grass Grows on Every Continent, including Antarctica!
Yes, even grass grows in Antarctica! One of the main grasses growing in the cool regions of the Antarctic Circle is Deschampsia antarctica, more commonly known as Antarctic Hair Grass.
Fact 10 – TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda Was Hand Selected Out of Almost 30,000 Different Bermuda Turf Varieties
TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda was bred by one of the world’s leading turfgrass breeders, the University of Georgia. This grass was chosen out of almost 30,000 other grasses due to its superior qualities in drought tolerance, shade tolerance, wear tolerance, and winter colour. TifTuf is also the only turfgrass in Australia to be awarded with the Smart Approved Watermark. This award is for its superior drought tolerance, needing on average 38% less water than other turf varieties.
For more lawn care tips and advice, make sure you check out our other lawn care blogs here.
