Do you want a lawn but are afraid of the amount and costs of
the water necessary to keep a healthy expanse of grass? While lawns require a
certain commitment to water usage, they also provide financial and physical
benefits for your home that might just offset this cost - or even overshadow
it. How is this possible? Discover five key ways a lawn provides a return on
your financial investment.
1. Lawns Cool the Area
Did you know that grass actually works to cool down the area
in which it grows? In fact, the space over a lawn can be 10
to 14 degrees
cooler than over hardscape - a boost that contributes to the
efficient and less expensive cooling of your house.
How do lawns do this? For one thing, grass absorbs sunlight
during the day and redistributes it at night - the opposite of heat-reflecting
hardscape. In addition, sunlight that hits grass evaporates natural moisture in
the lawn rather than releasing as heat. This process, called
evapotranspiration, means that the heat is used up by evaporating the water and
therefore does not redirect outward.
2. Lawns Encourage Home Recreation
A healthy and inviting lawn can be a big draw for many
people looking for ways to entertain themselves and others. It is inviting -
particularly in the dog days of summer - and provides plenty of space for kids
and adults to play at home. You may be able to replace a variety of more
expensive activities, such as paid kids' play areas or group sports and
gatherings at bars or restaurants, with free activities at home.
3. Lawns Help With Drainage
When you add any element of hardscape to the yard, you risk
reducing the ground's ability to drain properly after rain, snow, and watering.
Paved entertainment areas generally need to include special additions, which
can cost to install, to contain runoff and provide artificial drainage.
On the other hand, a lawn improves natural drainage in a big
way. Unwanted water runoff can be an expensive risk to your home, but it may be
solved with something as simple as a slight grade in a porous lawn leading away
from the foundation. A properly graded lawn prevents puddling, directs water
away from expensive hardscape features, and reduces ice buildup.
4. Lawns Prevent Erosion
Ground cover is a simple and cheap way to minimize erosion
difficulties in your yard as well. Healthy roots of a ground cover such as
grass form masses that help keep soil in place. While some homeowners may spend
hundreds of dollars or more to add supports to minimize sloping and erosion, a
layer of grass can often do a similar job for a lot less.
5. Lawns Improve Home Value
The right landscaping can boost home value significantly.
Why? It adds to curb appeal by creating an immediate visceral response as
buyers approach and signals to buyers that your home is more likely to be well
cared for.
A lawn is one of the best ways to get a big bang for your
buck with home values. For a minimal investment, a lawn projects a huge amount
of green lushness and requires less care than individual garden beds and
shrubbery.
Which of these potentially valuable financial benefits could
make the most impact on your property? No matter whether you want lower cooling
costs, natural protection from the elements, or a way to save money on
recreation, a lawn could be just what you are looking for - even with some
additional water expense. Learn more by meeting with the lawn professionals at Wright Turf Farms
today. We look forward
to meeting with you soon.
