Many homeowners let their lawns go dormant in the winter, which is completely natural-but some homeowners will allow their lawns to go dormant in the summer as well. If there’s a long stretch of dry weather and your lawn begins to burn out, it’s easy to just shrug it off as a seasonal inevitability. Dry weather equals dry lawn, and there’s no use fighting a losing battle, right? While this may seem environmentally friendly – it’s important to note that you aren’t wasting water when the weather is dry – the opposite is true. A healthy, well irrigated lawn is good for the environment, and a healthy lawn needs the help of an irrigation system all summer long.

photo of lawn that is starting to brown in some areas

How Does a Healthy Lawn Help the Environment?

Everyone knows that trees are crucial to clean air, but lawns can be just as important. Unlike hard surfaces, a healthy lawn will help clean the air, trap carbon dioxide, and release oxygen. An increase in carbon dioxide will lead to elevated temperatures, and the increase in plants will help keep carbon dioxide at bay. Not only will a healthy lawn remove carbon dioxide, but it will also trap dust to keep it out of the air, meaning easier breathing and a cleaner world. In addition, a healthy lawn will reduce erosion and improve your soil. Healthy grass will keep the soil structure loose and open, allowing water to soak in. Compact soil from an unhealthy, unnecessarily dormant lawn will lead to runoff, which can damage the structure of the soil and the land around it. A healthy lawn with good drainage will allow water to seep into the groundwater system, keeping the natural watersheds healthy.

A Healthy Lawn Keeps You Cooler

Think about an urban area with little grass. In the summer, these areas feel much warmer than areas with grass and trees. More energy is needed in these areas to keep the buildings cool. Dry soil isn’t much better. A dry and dormant lawn can get very hot, but healthy grass can be up to 20 degrees cooler. A lush lawn will not only lower the temperature of your yard, but will help keep your home cool as well. While you may think you’re being environmentally conscious by conserving water, you are actually helping the temperature rise.

How to Keep Your Lawn Healthy

Efficient, regular watering is the best way to maintain a healthy lawn. You don’t want to water too much, and you don’t want to water too little. The best way to ensure you have the perfect balance is with a lawn irrigation system. Irrigation systems are designed to find the perfect balance of watering. Many systems have sensors that will monitor the soil and water when necessary. Using your irrigation system is one of the most environmentally conscious ways to keep your plant life healthy, thriving, and working for the environment. Keep your grass thick, as tall grass (usually around 2.5 inches) is strong and healthy. When you keep your lawn healthy during the summer, it will stay greener, providing benefits further into the winter, and will bounce back more quickly in the spring. By keeping your irrigation system running all season, you will provide a positive environmental impact.

Grass is a plant too, and deserves just as much respect as trees and other plantlife. A healthy lawn works hard for the environment, and you can help your lawn stay healthy and hardworking by giving it what it needs in the most efficient way. To learn more about efficient irrigation, or to schedule regular irrigation system maintenance, contact Sprinkler Pro today.