10 Interesting Grass Facts That Might Surprise You
You may think grass doesn’t affect your daily life too much, but grass actually affects a lot of things in your life, from air to alcohol. We’re big fans of grass, and having worked with it so long, we thought you’d enjoy reading some of our interesting facts about the stuff that grows on your lawn. Here’s a couple of grass facts we bet you didn’t know.
1. Over 10,000 Different Types of Grass Exist
Almost every habitat and biome on our planet has some type of grass as its resident. That’s a lot of ground to cover! Grasses come in all shapes and sizes. Some variations of grass species include: turf grass, wheat, rice, corn, sugarcane, and even bamboo.
2. Grass Conserves Water and Cleans Air
When grass takes root and grows beneath the soil, it acts as an anchor for all the loose soil and sand. Grass helps trap water by storing it in their roots and blades. It also cleans air through the process of photosynthesis and keeps your yard from eroding away due to rain and wind.
3. A Healthy Lawn Can Keep Your House Cool
Grass blades absorb and disperse the sun’s rays and prevent the ground from absorbing and storing the sun’s radiant heat. In turn, this makes your house cooler by making the surrounding ground cooler. Grass cover can keep the ground cool at temperatures anywhere between 30 – 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
4. Most of the Earth is Covered in Grasslands
Grasslands make up most of the Earth and are actually some of the largest ecosystems in the world. It’s estimated that 20 – 40 % of the Earth is covered in grassland. Not to mention around 800 million people depend on grasslands for agriculture and their livelihood.
5. Palm Trees are Actually Just Tall Grass
Due to their biological makeup, palm trees are technically classified as a very tall grass. Grasses are monocots, monocots are classified as having one seed and fibrous stems. Palm trees fit these qualifications, but due to their large size, they are often categorized as trees.
6. Grass is the Oldest Living Organism Discovered
Scientists have managed to find a species of seagrass in the Mediterranean Sea that existed 200,000 years ago. That makes it one of the oldest living organisms to have ever been discovered.
7. The Centre Court at Wimbledon is the Most Expensive Lawn in the World
A lot of sports requires grass to play on, like soccer, golf, and tennis. The most expensive lawn in the world just so happens to be in England at the Centre Court at Wimbledon. The famous tennis court has around 54 million single grass plants that cover it and requires a lot of maintenance.
8. Grass is Green Because of Photosynthesis
Grass contains a special pigment, much like flamingos and carrots, that reacts and causes its color to always be green. That special pigment is chlorophyll. During the process of photosynthesis, chlorophyll absorbs blue and red light, and reflects green light, making the grass appear green.
9. Grass is Used for Other Materials Too
Grass has other uses besides as food or for landscaping purposes. It’s also used for construction material, like as thatch for roofs, and the fibers of certain grasses are used to make paper.
10. Grass is Used to Make Alcohol
With the exception of wine, many popular alcoholic beverages are produced using various grasses. Barley, rye, and wheat are all used to make whiskey, while rice is used to make sake. Parties just wouldn’t be the same without grass to make our favorite cocktails.
We hope you enjoyed the fun facts about grass. If you’d like to know any more information regarding grass, or need to order some grass for your home’s lawn, get in touch with us. Our team of professionals at The Grass Outlet would be happy to help you create the perfect lawn!
