Ten Facts About Grasses You May Not Know

Grasses are often considered valuable for their aesthetic qualities, but there is much more to these plants than meets the eye. All grasses are in the Poaceae family, which is one of the most abundant families of plants on earth. From pasture grasses for animal consumption to food crops, such as oat and barley, for human consumption, grasses make up the world's most significant food source. 

While there are more than 10,000 varieties of plants in the Poaceae family, different types of grasses have some similarities. All grasses produce seeds that are monocotyledonous, which means that each seed produces only one leaf sprout. Additionally, most grasses are herbaceous, so they don't produce woody stems, and they die back to the ground at the end of the growing season.

Grasses are invaluable assets to our planet and its inhabitants. With a better understanding and appreciation for grasses, you may never look at your lawn the same way again. Here are 10 unusual facts you may not know about the Poaceae family of plants:

1. About 1,400 species of grasses exist in the United States.
2. Grasses make up about 26% of the plant life on earth.
3. By weight, turfgrass is 75 to 80% water. 
4. Varieties of grass grow on all continents, even in polar regions. Antarctic hairgrass (Deschampsia Antarctica) is the only member of the Poaceae family native to Antarctica.
5. A healthy greenscape can increase your commercial property value by up to 20%.
6. Grass-covered lawns, prairies and hillsides help prevent erosion by keeping soil in place with their root systems.
7. Grass lawns improve air quality by producing oxygen and trapping airborne dust particles and other contaminants.
8. Commercial property landscapes that include grass lawns, trees and shrubs can reduce the air temperature surrounding the property by up to 14 degrees Fahrenheit.
9. Giant bamboo, which can grow up to 151 feet tall, is the largest variety of grass.
10. A 2,500 square foot grass greenscape produces enough oxygen for four people.

No matter where you live or what type of grass you have, your lawn is likely to require at least occasional irrigation to keep it green during extended summer dry spells.

The right time: Water early in the morning.

Why timing matters: Early morning is the best time to give your lawn a drink. The warming sun will soon dry the grass and lessen the chance of disease. Avoid nighttime watering, which can encourage disease because of prolonged moisture, and afternoon watering, which is subject to significant water loss from evaporation.

When it's necessary to water, do so once or twice a week, long enough to wet the soil several inches down. This encourages deep roots compared with frequent, but shallow, irrigation, and it will make your lawn more drought-tolerant.

Because grasses have a positive impact on climate, clean water and air quality, every homeowner can take part in supporting a healthy environment. While you're probably not growing giant bamboo or Arctic hairgrass, maintaining your greenscape is a simple way to improve your air quality while increasing the value of your commercial property.

No matter what you call it, you don’t need to worry about your lawn maintenance. It doesn’t matter to us whether you want desert landscaping, lush lawns or some type of landscaping in between, we can help.  We serve businesses like yours all over the Phoenix Metro Area. To find out how give us a call at 623-848-8277.

Presented by:
Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance, LLC
623-848-8277
http://www.commerciallandscapecare.com
greenskeeperllc@cox.net