From basic biology knowledge, it’s known that any plant life requires the sun to grow. If we follow that established line of thought, after you place a trampoline on your lawn, the grass under it should slowly die out, right?
Well, the answer is both yes and no. The grass could very well increase in growth and flourish. But why does grass grow faster under a trampoline instead of following the logical end?
There have been many reports of such incidents where the lawn is practically saved by the presence of a trampoline. One Reddit user was shocked when the grass started drying out after they removed the trampoline from its spot.
Why does it happen? We’ll be discussing the science of it in this article. So bear with me.
What Does Sunlight Do for Grass?
There is no plant life that doesn’t love the sun shining on it. Even those that do not need direct sunlight grow fairly well if it gets a bit of sunshine.
It’s basic biology. Plant life, in this case, grass converts the energy it gets from the sun into sugar as a result of the photosynthesis process.
It doesn’t only allow the grass to feed itself but also makes it immune to diseases. All of these work to bolster grass health and boosts its growth in the most unfriendly circumstances.
So, what happens when you block sunlight from reaching the grass leaves? Usually, plants start to slowly die due to the lack of solar energy. But it’s not always the case as you can guess from the title of the article.
Does the Lawn Grow Better in Sunlight or Shade?
Sun is important for a healthy lawn, however, the amount of sunlight depends on the type of grass.
Most lawns will flourish when it receives sufficient sunlight. Even shade-tolerant grass like Fescus (Festuca spp.) can handle sunny lawns. The shade-tolerant species could be a great way to take advantage of any shades on the lawn, such as the patch of lawn below your trampoline!
Why Is the Grass Under the Trampoline Greener and Grows Faster?
Not to burst your bubbles, but it’s not an everyday case where the grass actually grows greener and faster under the shade of a trampoline.
Most of the time what happens is that the grass will try to tackle the shade by forcing its way through. So it will look lush and green. But eventually, the lack of sunlight will catch up, and the grass will slowly die out.
However, there are certain cases where the shade of a trampoline becomes an advantage.
1. Prevents Moisture Evaporation
Grass thrives when there’s moisture. And excess temperature from sunlight can kill it. If there’s a way to conserve the moisture, grass will grow with freedom.
And since the trampoline is blocking any sunlight from reaching the ground, it’s also preventing the moisture underground from evaporating. With sufficiently wet ground underneath, the grass gets a favorable condition to grow.
2. Even the Spreading of Sunlight
We know how important sunlight is for photosynthesis and plant growth. And contrary to what you may have thought some trampolines can even work as an excellent mediator between sunlight and the grass.
It can help even out the sunlight exposure if it’s slightly transparent. It can also magnify the UV rays from the sun and spread them out evenly.
3. Protection from Excess Sunlight
Along with that, the trampoline also works as a shade to protect the grass from high temperatures not conducive to its growth.
When the temperature gets too high for a type of grass, it can take precautions to preserve its health. For example, if your lawn is in an area where there’s excess sunlight for your lawn’s grass, it makes the grass go into an inactive state to conserve water.
So it stops growing. A trampoline works as a shade to prevent from entering the inactive state.
Why Does Grass Die Under Trampoline?
Grass can thrive under a trampoline. But the shade of the trampoline can also kill the grass. There are a couple of scenarios where the grass will wither off under a trampoline.
- If there’s already a lack of moisture underground. This is common in colder regions.
- If the grass depends extensively on sunlight
- If there’s too much moisture in the ground and the trampoline prevents sunlight from keeping the moisture content at the necessary level
In all of these cases, the grass will not only stop growing, but it will slowly die.
How to Maintain Grass Underneath a Trampoline?
If you find out that the grass underneath your trampoline is actually growing instead of dying, you have to take care of the grass. Here’s how you can do it,
Tip 1: Use a Lawn Mower
The best way to care for the patch of lawn underneath the trampoline is to move the trampoline once in a while from its spot. And then you can get to work with your lawnmower. Any lawnmower will work. I’d suggest a small push lawn mower if you have a small lawn.
Tip 2: Get an Extended Trimmer
However, if it’s possible to move the trampoline, there’s still hope. You can use an extended trimmer to cut the grass underneath and keep your trampoline intact.
But you have to maintain caution as a simple mishap will cost you another trampoline.
Final Words
Why does grass grow faster under a trampoline? The simple answer is that the shade of the trampoline enhances the growing environment for grass. However, this will only apply to warm areas. In cold areas, the shade of the trampoline will bring the opposite result since there’s already a lack of heat and sunlight. And grass needs a wet but warm condition to grow.
Last Updated on February 23, 2023
