Members
Only

Turf Care: Facts and Figures

Turf Care                       Facts and figures

The lawn and landscape industry is part of the booming service sector of the economy. An average of more than one out of five households (22 percent) have hired professional landscape, lawn care and tree care services annually the last four years, according to a US Gallup survey released in 1997. Homeowners spent more than $14 billion a year on these services. For 1997 and beyond, 23 percent say they plan to hire professional lawn and landscape services.

While the numbers are impressive, they only tell part of the green industry story. Turf and ornamentals are essential to a clean environment, are aesthetically pleasing, increase appeal and property value, provide a safe, cushioned play surface for children, and instil a sense of community and pride in our surroundings.

The Gallup poll showed that the top five benefits of a well-maintained lawn and landscape are:

• A property that helps beautify the neighbourhood.
• A place of beauty and relaxation for family, employees or visitors. A property that reflects positively on its owner.
• A comfortable place to entertain, work at or visit.
• A property that has increased real estate market value.

Turf -- An Environmental Hero

There are more than 25 million acres of lawns that provide environmental benefits such as:

• Oxygen production. 58 square metres of lawn provide enough oxygen for one person for an entire day.
• Temperature modification. On a block of eight average houses, front lawns have the cooling effect of 70 tonnes of air conditioning.
• Allergy control. Turf controls dust, in addition to pollen from plants that can cause serious health problems for some individuals.
• Pollutant absorption. Turfgrasses absorb gaseous pollutants such as carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide, converting them to oxygen.
• Particulate entrapment. Turfgrasses trap an estimated 12 million tons of dust and dirt released annually into the atmosphere.
• Fire retardation. Grass around buildings helps retard the spread of fire.
• Water quality. Reducing runoff, turfgrass filters the water that helps to recharge groundwater supplies.

Because of its filtering capability, turf has been used for years between agricultural fields as a buffer to prevent pesticide runoff. According to a US Environmental Protection Agency's publication Healthy Lawn, Healthy Environment, "Healthy grass provides feeding ground for birds, who find it a rich source of insects, worms, and other food. Thick grass prevents soil erosion, filters contaminants from rainwater, and absorbs many types of airborne pollutants, like dust and soot. Grass is also highly efficient at converting carbon dioxide to oxygen, a process that helps clean the air."

Economic Impact

Given the number of households and lawns, the economic impact of such a large service industry is considerable. Turfgrass as an industry is considered to well exceed the $25 billion mark. Additionally, it is estimated that more than 500,000 people make their living directly from the care and maintenance of turfgrass across the country. The sale of lawn care products is estimated to total more than $4 billion a year, which represents nearly one-third of all money spent on gardening in the country. These figures have been on the rise for the past several years and are expected to continue a steady climb.

A Gallup poll concluded that a well-maintained lawn has real monetary value. According to respondents, attractive lawns offer an appeal, which prompt potential homebuyers to visit the inside of the home. Another study indicated that homeowners realise a 15 percent increase in home value or selling price when the property was complemented by an attractive landscape. Grass is perennial, so lawns are very durable investments.

Responsible Industry Practices

Lawn care practices may involve the use of pest control products. To avoid risks to handlers, the environment, wildlife or others, these products should be handled properly and applied according to label instructions. Professionals use the same products homeowners do. Products that are available off-the-shelf in grocery stores and hardware stores. Lawn care operators are professional in their knowledge of how to apply these everyday-type products. States require licensing of businesses performing lawn application services.
ALMA has established a national accreditation training program to keep these professionals knowledgeable and well trained.
ALMA also offers a Turf Management for Domestic Lawns course through selected TAFE colleges.
To help answer your questions about lawn care practices, ALMA offers a question-and-answer brochure "What You Should Know About Lawn Care Products and Services."

Lawn Care Operator Profile

The lawn and landscape industry is comprised of businesses that range in size from sole trader owner-operators to large companies and franchise operations. In many of the smaller companies, the owners participate in all aspects of their service business. Services to commercial, industrial, governmental and residential customers include mowing, maintenance, aeration, seeding, landscaping, fertiliser and pest control applications, and ornamental and small tree care.Lawn care companies offer pesticide, pesticide-free, integrated pest management and organic programs. Before selecting a lawn care company, ALMA recommends that homeowners and property managers check references, and make sure the company is a member of a professional association.

What is ALMA?

The Australian Lawnmowers Association Pty Ltd is a national association that promotes education, balanced legislation and public awareness of the environmental and aesthetic benefits of turf and ornamentals. ALMA represents more than 1,200 lawn and landscape companies, industry suppliers, government agencies, grounds managers, educators and students in Australia. Organised in 1958, ALMA offers regional workshops, an annual conference,a educational resource centre, and manages the ALMA Turf Field Days. ALMA's national office provides its members with hotline help on technical and legislative topics, and provides access to general industry-related legal questions. ALMA develops and distributes a variety of consumer information on the environmental benefits of a healthy lawn and safety practices. ALMA fosters a sense of environmental awareness among its members and the public through numerous programs and activities.