At The Grass People, we are true grass lovers, from the sowing to the growing and everything in between. But we realise that our interest in the grass is higher than most, so to help us showcase how great it is, we have compiled a fun list of facts about grass.

Fact #1 - Grass is used to make alcohol.

Grass and alcohol? It seems unbelievable when you say it out loud, but it’s true, your parties just wouldn’t be the same without grass! Many popular alcoholic beverages are manufactured using grains from various types of grass.

Fact #2 - A healthy lawn can help to keep your house cool.

Our summers in the UK are often short and sweet; it’s worth knowing that a healthy lawn can actually help to keep your house cool in those warmer weeks. Grass blades absorb and disperse the sun’s rays and prevent the ground from taking in and storing the sun’s heat, effectively making your lawn a natural air conditioner.

Fact #3 - Bamboo is part of the grass family.

Bamboo may not be a common grass type in the UK, but it is part of the wider grass family (Poaceae). It is the tallest species in the grass family, reaching heights of up to 24-30 metres. That’s approximately the height of 14 men!

Fact #4 - Tennis is home to the most expensive grass in the world.

The most famous grass tennis court in the world is the Centre Court at Wimbledon, and it is considered to be the most expensive grass lawn in the world. The Centre Court previously had a mixture of 70% ryegrass and 30% red fescue in 2001 but has since changed to 100% ryegrass to increase the durability of the surface ahead of two weeks of intense pounding during the world grass tennis championships.

Fact #5 - The ‘stripe’ effect.

The stripes you see on a sports field or a lawn aren’t created by using a variety of grass seeds, nor are they created by cutting your lawn to a different height. The stripes seen are caused by light reflecting off the blades of grass due to the blades of grass being bent in different directions. So, mowing your grass in an opposite pattern (left/right, up/down) will give you the most contrasting stripes.

Fact #6 - Glastonbury farm grass.

Home to one of the world’s most famous music festivals, Glastonbury Farms' main priority lies outside of hosting music festivals. With over 1,100 acres of farmland, producing grass that will produce the best quality silage while being fit for a few thousand people walking over it is a challenge. Glastonbury Farm now uses a 50:50 mix of old variety fescues and perennial ryegrass.

Fact #7 - Grass as a detoxifying agent

We will all agree that a beautiful green lawn looks great outside your house, but its benefits are rooted much deeper than its aesthetic qualities. Like all living plants, grass takes up CO2 and releases oxygen. Grass breathes in carbon dioxide and releases oxygen, detoxifying the air and making breathing easier. Even a 50x50-foot lawn produces enough oxygen for a family of four.

Interesting facts about grass

If you have any questions after reading our facts about grass, if you have any grass insights of your own, or if you would like advice on the grass in your garden, please get in touch; we would love to discuss it with you.