Environmental Advantages of Golf Course Turf
Golf course grass isn’t just aesthetically attractive. Thanks to its dense root system, well-maintained turfgrass provides a variety of benefits to wildlife and the environment. Some of these benefits include pollution control, soil building, and temperature moderation. This lush covering is also an excellent way to conserve water and support the surrounding ecosystem.
Thankfully, turfgrass isn’t just for golf courses. Homeowners and business owners can also benefit from incorporating this grass into their landscapes.
Erosion Control
Mowed turfgrass is crucial when it comes to effective erosion control. This dense ground cover has a high shoot density that ranges from 30 million to more than eight billion shoots per acre. Regular mowing boosts this density, especially when compared to grassland that hasn’t been grazed.
In addition, golf course turf has an extraordinary root mass that makes it effective in soil surface stabilization. It’s more effective than shrubs and trees, which are often planted along bodies of water in an effort to control erosion. However, these plants offer sparse surface cover, and their root systems are not as effective at erosion control.
Water Conservation & Pollution Control
Turfgrasses have a superior capability of trapping and holding runoff water. By reducing runoff volume, this makes turfgrass extremely beneficial for water conservation efforts and decreasing stormwater management requirements that pervade urban areas.
Planting golf course grass seed also helps keep local waterways clean and free of contaminants in urban areas. Runoff water in these regions often contains a high concentration of harmful pollutants, including metals, chemicals, fuel, pesticides and similar. Turfgrass catches, filters, and degrades these polluted waters before they make their way into the public water supply.
Temperature Moderation
Did you know that urban areas can be anywhere from nine to 12 degrees warmer than nearby rural areas? Known as the urban heat island effect, this can be attributed to the high amount of asphalt, concrete, and tall buildings that trap heat in cities and prevent it from escaping.
The use of golf course grass types helps dissipate these high radiant energy levels through a cooling process called transpiration. During transpiration, moisture is absorbed by plant roots and flows through the stems and into the leaves. This water then evaporates into the atmosphere, cooling down the surrounding air.
Keeping surroundings cool also helps reduce the work that air conditioners need to do to keep urban homes and buildings at a comfortable temperature. This helps to conserve energy and minimize the exploitation of natural resources like natural gas, oil, coal, and water.
If you want your lawn to do double-duty, consider ordering a bag of golf course grass seed from a well-known seeds company. In an age where homeowners, golf courses and businesses continue to become more eco-conscious, it’s smart to consider golf course grass types when mapping out your landscape.