Houses have grown larger, house blocks smaller and turf has become an enemy of the environment! We have heard the pleas, "lawns waste precious water and mowing adds to pollution so tear up the lawn and pave the area or lay fake grass!”
For the 'environmental vandals' amongst us, AQUATREK offers the following solace and amazing facts.
- Lawns absorb carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide and other airborne pollutants to produce oxygen and sequester carbon in its dense root system.
- Most paved areas are concrete based and cement manufacture is estimated to produce 10% of the world’s man made greenhouse gas emissions.
- Lawn produces more oxygen than the equivalent area of rainforest yet we are outraged at the destruction of South American rainforests while fervently replacing our lawns with concrete!
- Lawns are a safer, quieter and cooler play area for children than paved, concreted or artificial turf areas.
- Grass roots are very fine and it is estimated a small lawn of 50 square metres contains in excess of 215 million kilometers of roots. If able to be strung together, they would circumnavigate the Earth 5,375 times!
- Turf helps prevent erosion and reduces runoff.
- Turf transpiration collects dust and airborne pollutants on its upward journey and these particles will later form the nuclei of raindrops.
- Mulcher mowers negate the need for fertilisers.
- Guinea pigs make great lawnmowers and a suitable narrow run lets them keep the edges trimmed!
- Australia's largest roof lawn is located on top of Parliament House Canberra.
- Germany leads the world with over 12% of all flat rooves being "green".
It is usually much cheaper and easier to install a tank and pump than replace lawn with paving. DURING RAIN AND BEFORE THE TANK FILLS, IT IS BEST TO TURN THE SPRINKLER ON AND SOAK THE LAWN RATHER THAN HAVE EXCESS WATER OVERFLOWING TO STORM WATER. This will help drought proof the lawn by encouraging deeper root growth, gain maximum advantage from SUPADIVERTA supplying a small tank plus assist with groundwater recharge. Turf filters water and groundwater quality and quantity is an extremely important environmental issue of growing concern.
HANDY HINT: The Bureau of Meteorology website link to the radar shows approaching rain bands size and intensity. With experience, householders can pre-moisten gardens and lawns with stored water to gain maximum benefit from anticipated rainfall.