The Importance Of Grasses

One of the many groups of plants we can be extremely thankful for, and one that we perhaps need more of in our gardens for their versatility, is grasses.

Grasses play an important role as soil stabilisers and soil protectors. For gardeners, grasses are low-maintenance and go well with other perennials and focal plants. On top of this, they provide interesting textures and colours for many months.

Why are grasses important?

There are reasons why 40% of the earth’s land mass is covered by grasslands: these vast areas of usually moderate to low rainfall are filled with grasses that support a teeming plant, insect and wildlife world, and they literally hold the land in place. A world without grasslands would be a very different place, a dusty desert. In fact, grasslands are considered one of the most important biomes on earth.

Here are some ways grasses help us:

Provide food for humans

People rely on grains as their main source of food in most countries, particularly in low-income countries. Although diets are changing, the world’s daily food intake is made up of 45% grain including wheat, rice, wild rice, corn, oats, barley, millet, sorghum and rye, out of the potential 10 000 species that have edible seeds.

Provide food for animals

A wild grassland has developed to have a symbiotic relationship with large herbivores, so that the grasses are happy to be pruned down to the ground and in return receive manure from the animals to improve the soil. The animals disturb the soil and move seed around, helped by birds and insects, and grasses are seeded to continue the cycle. Large grazers eat 60 times more than a human consumes each day, so these vast areas of grassland are essential for their very survival. Domestic grazers also rely heavily on grasses, and farmers are then responsible for the upkeep of the grasslands.

Prevent soil erosion

Grasses have fibrous roots that are ideal for holding the soil in place and preventing soil erosion. Some types of grass grow in low-rainfall zones and are often the difference between having vegetation or not. The roots also trap water and make the soil more fertile, and some grasses are natural filtration centres that clean water.

Add biodiversity

Apart from the number of grass species that can be found in a grassland – up to 1000 species in a South African grassland – there are also many, many wildflowers and plants tucked between the grasses, making this a rich biodiversity of plants. In fact, some grasslands will have more species than a tropical rainforest.

Adding grasses to your garden

Climate change, unmanaged grazing, agriculture and human development all have an impact on grassland survival, and the loss of biodiversity is just one factor that we can help with in our own gardens. By making grasses, especially indigenous grasses from your area, an important component of your garden, you will increase food for birds and attract more wildlife, as well as adding a really good structural and textural element to the whole design of the space.