Remember the feeling of walking barefoot through lush, green grass on a hot summer day? How cool the grass felt on your feet compared to the heat of the air and the pavement? That cooling effect is one of the many natural benefits of a healthy lawn.
A lawn is made of millions of living grass plants that naturally cool the air through photosynthesis. In fact the air above grass can be as much as 30 degrees cooler than above asphalt and 14 degrees cooler than bare soil. A cared-for lawn not only makes it nicer for walking barefoot, but it also provides a cooler place for children to play.
About half of the sun's heat hitting a lawn can be eliminated through grass's natural processes, cooling the environment and surrounding buildings. A block of 8 average-size well cared-for lawns in your neighborhood provide the same cooling effects as 18 air conditioning units.
Source
Because your lawn absorbs heat from the sun and reduces the temperature above it, it can reduce the amount of electricity used to cool your home. Studies in Florida showed a 50 percent reduction in air-conditioning costs with appropriate landscaping, including grass. And, because the irregular surface of the lawn absorbs and scatters light, it greatly reduces glare.
To maximize the cooling benefits of your lawn, maintain its vigor with regular feedings of a quality lawn fertilizer such as Scotts® Turf Builder® with 2% Iron. You'll get even more cooling power from your lawn when you mow it high and reseed bare and thin areas to keep the grass thick and strong.
