|
The value of the North American lawn |
|
|
|
|
Page 9 of 11
Lawns promote neighborhood cohesion
The well-maintained wide-open, American boulevards and residential lawns that lack fences promote a sense of neighborhood cohesion that is usually lacking in many parts of the world. These highly maintained lawns and landscapes can be both aesthetically pleasing and inviting to the visitors. The sense of pride taken by homeowners in displaying their lawn management skills creates an environment for neighborliness. In fact, this display ethic creates a social pressure to "fit in" and encourages the adoption of lawn management practices that produce tidy, green, and weed-free lawns. Community pride and interest is often derived from quality sports fields and parks. Recreation and leisure activities on lawns are vital to the contemporary society, especially in densely populated urban areas.
In fact, a unique phenomenon often occurs related to lawns - residents will mow their neighbor's lawns during periods that the neighbor is on vacation or ill. Neighbors often see and talk to each other while undertaking their weekly lawn maintenance tasks.
Lawns reduce crime
Well-maintained lawns and landscapes reduce crime. In a California study, landscape areas were relatively graffiti-free, while open, non-landscaped areas were graffiti-targets. Well-planned and maintained landscapes are seen as safer than unmaintained plantings. Lawns in particular provide a sense of security by enhancing visibility zones that discourage unwanted intruders and vandals.
Lawns reduce physical injuries to players
Lawns provide a unique, low-cost cushioning effect that reduces injuries to the players when compared with nonturfed soils, particularly in the more active contact sports like football, rugby, and soccer. Surface hardness measurements illustrate the substantial benefit of a properly managed, quality turf in reducing the hardness of sports fields (Beard and Green, 1994). The resiliency of turf lawns helps to protect the legs while running or walking. Artificial turf installed in many stadiums has been replaced with natural turfgrass due to injuries and player preference.
Lawns reduce fire hazard
Green, growing lawns serve as effective fire breaks that significantly reduce fire hazard (Beard and Green, 1994). This attribute is especially important for homes and buildings adjacent to extensive woodlands or brush areas and also in dry arid environments.
|
