When updating your landscaping or building a new home, you may need to decide whether you would prefer a natural lawn or artificial turf. Comparing the pros and cons of artificial turf can be helpful in making the best choice for your lawn based on your property and budget.
Find out what artificial turf is, the advantages and disadvantages of artificial turf, and what things to consider before deciding whether artificial turf is the right step for you.
What is artificial grass?
Artificial turf is made of synthetic materials that look like living grass and cover the surface of a yard. Synthetic grass looks incredibly real compared to the original 1960s AstroTurf and offers the beautiful, vibrant, and lush lawn many homeowners want every season.
Benefits of artificial grass
Synthetic weed has come a long way since it was first introduced in the 1960s. It is now entirely possible to install artificial turf without the appearance of artificial grass. With increasing concerns about water conservation and growing awareness of the environmental impacts and health issues associated with fertilizers and pesticides required for typical lawns, it is easy to see why more people are receptive to the idea of replacing their turfgrass for synthetic ones exchange grass.
Some of the advantages of artificial grass are:
- Attractive all year round (instead of brown grass in summer and muddy ground in winter).
- No need for irrigation.
- No pesticides or fertilizers are needed to make artificial turf look good.
- No cutting, mowing or cutting of the grass.
- No problems “growing” in the shade, blotchy spots from wear and tear, or pest damage.
- Elements are good for the environment like the fact that no water is used and that artificial turf can be made from recycled materials.
- Can be installed quickly.
Disadvantages of artificial grass
While artificial turf has advantages, it also has some key disadvantages to consider when choosing the right type of lawn for your home or property, including the following:
- Artificial turf fields can have high installation costs as synthetic grass costs an average of $ 12.50 per square foot compared to $ 0.40 per square foot for lawns.
- The filling material and the anti-shock layer must be replaced every few years.
- Polyethylene plastic is a petroleum-based product that must be replaced in 15-25 years and is not biodegradable.
- Must be serviced, e.g. B. swept and disinfected, since artificial turf can absorb bacteria if it is not properly disinfected.
- Some elements can be harmful to humans or the environment, including the crumb rubber, which is used to backfill beneath the surface of the lawn, which can contain harmful chemicals, and runoff from materials can enter groundwater.
- The surface becomes hotter than natural grass and over 30 degrees warmer than the air temperature. The surface temperature of the artificial turf was 37 degrees Fahrenheit higher than asphalt and 86.5 degrees Fahrenheit hotter than real grass.
- Artificial turf is rougher than living grass and can cause carpet burns.
- The installation process kills any soil life under the lawn due to the filling process, making it nearly impossible to switch back to live grass or plants at a later date.
Alternative lawns
Instead of limiting yourself to the debate between grass types, consider hardscaping or xeriscaping as an eco-friendly home landscape if you want to install artificial turf. Choosing the right plants can save you water, reduce maintenance costs as well as regular physical maintenance yourself, and eliminate the need for chemicals, while at the same time keeping your soil ecosystem intact to aid in water retention.
Maintaining real lawns costs time and money. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that landscape irrigation accounts for one-third of the water used in residential areas, which is roughly 9 billion gallons of water per day. Water usage is not to be taken lightly, and as more communities impose water restrictions, choosing an alternative turf option can be the route for your property based on the location and access to water.
Is artificial turf installation right for you?
As we move into the summer months, outdoor barbecues begin and the kids playing soccer outside wistfully find their way into our daydreams. But the muddy field of weeds that is outside isn’t exactly what many of us imagine to be enjoying our time. Artificial turf installation, while not cheap, can be done quickly.
Artificial turf can be a great alternative to a natural lawn, but it isn’t for everyone. Take into account where your property is, your budget, and some of the pros and cons as you determine if it will fit your home well.
Remember that all synthetic brands are the same. If it is a lower quality material, or if the artificial turf installation is not done by lawn professionals, it will likely show wear and tear much sooner, and the maintenance and running costs of topping up and leveling will likely be higher as well.
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