Q. Does Lightning Make Your Grass Greener?

A. Nitrogen is the nutrient in the soil that is most responsible for the green in your grass. It’s also a common ingredient in fertilizers. The Earth’s atmosphere is approximately 78% nitrogen. Yet, nitrogen can’t be used by grass as raw nitrogen; it needs to be combined with oxygen to create a nitrate. The blade of grass absorbs the nitrate and it is used to create more chlorophyll and—go green.

During a thunderstorm, every time there is a bolt of lightning, electrical energy breaks the strong nitrogen bonds. The nitrogen then quickly attaches to oxygen, forming nitrogen dioxide. Nitrogen dioxide dissolves easily in water, creating nitric acid, which then easily dissolves to create a magic ingredient: NITRATES. The nitrates fall to the ground in the form of raindrops, seeping into your soil and helping your grass to turn green.

There is some debate as to how much the electricity in lightning affects the greening of grass. Some people will say that not enough nitrates are formed to affect the green and are blown many miles away. Thus, the bright green is an illusion that is created from the wet grass sparkling in the sun’s rays. Either way, your grass will likely appear more green after a lightning storm than after a storm with no lightning.

Why Weingartz?

Weingartz, family owned and operated, began in 1945 as a farm supply store for local Michigan families. In the 1970s, we began to focus exclusively on outdoor power equipment. Over time, we morphed into the “power equipment superstore” that now defines all of our locations. The staff and experts at Weingartz work diligently to provide the best service possible and give honest and helpful advice to each and every customer.

Weingartz also sells parts for all outdoor power equipment at https://weingartz.com/parts-lookup.

Weingartz

5436 Jackson Rd.

Ann Arbor, MI 48103

(734) 239-8200

info@weingartz.com

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