Why Does Freshly Cut Grass Smell?
Because grass releases chemicals when it's injured.
You know that wonderful smell of freshly cut grass? The one that reminds you of summer, sunshine, and freshly mowed lawns?
Yeah. That's the smell of a massacre.
Congratulations. Your lawnmower is a murder weapon, and you've been enjoying the evidence.
Related Rabbit Holes
Wait. Am I Murdering My Lawn?
Well, technically, you're injuring it. Grass usually survives mowing.
But that doesn't make this any less entertaining.
When you cut grass, you damage its cells, causing them to release chemicals called green leaf volatiles.
And here's where things get interesting.
Some of those chemicals are involved in plant defense. Certain plants can use chemical signals to warn neighboring tissues or attract insects that attack whatever is eating them.
That's right. Plants have chemical alarm systems.
Imagine somebody chopping your legs off, and instead of screaming, you release a lovely fragrance that makes the neighbors say, âMmm, smells like summer!â
Meanwhile, the grass is trying to deal with the situation, and you're standing there admiring your freshly murdered lawn.
And the worst part?
You'll do it again next Saturday.
Further Reading