National Lawn Care Month Observed in April

It’s that time of year again, when the nation’s 30 million acres of lawns are green and growing. The return of warm weather, green grass and flowering plants makes April the ideal time to celebrate the value of turf. To observe the importance of lawns in our daily lives and environment, the Professional Lawn Care Association of America (PLCAA) designates April as National Lawn Care Month.

PLCAA originally labeled April as National Lawn Care Month about ten years ago as an attempt to rekindle community pride in residential and commercial landscapes, as well as to educate the general public about turf health, said Karen Weber, director of communications, PLCAA, Marietta, Ga. “Not as many people realize the benefits of turf, so this is an opportunity to draw attention to how a healthy lawn can help purify and cool the air, and filter water that drains into the ground – to name a few,” she said.

A Gallup poll released in 2000 reported that more than 26.4 million U.S. households spent $17.4 billion on professional lawn care, landscape and tree care services in 1999. “This number is expected to continue to grow, especially in light of the fact that many Americans are spending more and more time at home and investing in their homes,” said Tom Delaney, executive vice president of the PLCAA.

A healthy, well-maintained lawn can increase a property’s value by 5 to 15 percent, PLCAA reported. But these numbers only tell part of the lawn care story. A healthy, well-maintained lawn provides many environmental benefits, including:

• Oxygen Production. Oxygen generation by turf has a major impact on our environment. A 50-foot by 50-foot lawn produces enough oxygen for a family of four.
• Cooling Effect. Grass is a natural air conditioner. Eight healthy front lawns have the cooling effect of 70 tons of air conditioning – enough for 16 average homes.
• Pollution Control. Dust and smoke particles from the atmosphere are trapped by turf, which helps keep the air cleaner. Grass also converts carbon dioxide to oxygen, a process that helps clean the air.
• Water Quality. Dense, healthy grass slows and filters runoff, removing contaminants and trapping soil. Fresh, filtered water returns to the underground water supply.

In addition, PLCAA highlights the benefits of grasscycling during National Lawn Care Month. PLCAA originally coined the term to describe the method of leaving grass clippings on the lawn, Weber stated.

Throughout the years, PLCAA has viewed the month as a great opportunity to voice advances in turf benefits, lawn care practices and similar information, she continued. “PLCAA’s messages change slightly from year to year by never stray from the benefits of turf messages,” Weber maintained.

These messages reach an average of 50 million landscape professionals and consumers each year, Weber said. In addition, PLCAA distributes consumer brochures such as "Water Quality and Your Lawn" and "What You Should Know About Lawn Care Products and Services."

Delaney recognized April as a great time for people to assess the condition of and satisfaction with their lawns. “PLCAA and its lawn care industry members support National Lawn Care Month, and encourage everyone to maintain a healthy lawn to derive the maximum environmental benefits,” he remarked.

To receive PLCAA’s free brochure “The ABC’s of Lawn & Turf Benefits,” send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: PLCAA, 1000 Johnson Ferry Road, NE, Suite C-135, Marietta, GA 30068. Also available from PLCAA: “What You Should Know About Lawn Care Products and Services.”