Artificial Turf: Faux or Just a Faux Pas?

by Theresa Smith, NaturaLawn of America

Artificial turf made a name for itself back in the 1960s when it was introduced in the sports arena as a substitute for natural grass athletic fields. What may be surprising is the number of people who are now looking beyond the realm of sports and into their own backyards for a chance to lay down synthetic turf. Being that we are a lawn care company and certainly admit our bias towards real grass, on the surface (no pun intended) we can understand why artificial turf may be an attractive option or perhaps even necessary under certain conditions. There are, however, underlying environmental, economical, and maintenance problems associated with artificial turf that far outweigh any benefits.

Environment

From an environmental standpoint, real grass serves numerous beneficial purposes that artificial turf simply cannot accomplish. Real grass controls erosion, produces oxygen, helps eliminate dust, is an air and water filter and a noise reducer. Grass also acts as a natural “air conditioner” for the climate at ground level. Real turf is an essential part of our ecosystem. Lawns contain microbial activity, bird life, shelter for small mammals, etc. So gaining a permanently green lawn with synthetic turf will actually cut back the biodiversity of an area.

Water is another factor to consider. Having synthetic turf might conserve water during a drought, but some studies have shown that it also leads to flooding during heavy rains due to its less absorptive nature. This flooding then can cause erosion and result in polluting our waterways.

Costs

Believing that artificial turf will save money in the long run is far from the truth. In order to put down synthetic grass in an area, a person will have to pay for the removal of existing sod and soil first. Then the artificial turf alone can cost anywhere from $6-15 per square foot. It takes about six to ten years to potentially regain the investment but people should note that the color fades with time. After five to fifteen years, artificial turf will need replacing and in many instances that is not enough time to recoup the initial costs. Real grass also increases property value so selling a house with an artificial lawn may be more difficult. Some communities have even made it against regulations to install fake turf.

Maintenance

Promises of never needing to mow, water, or treat artificial turf are tempting but artificial lawns still require maintenance. For example, it is recommended that twice a month the artificial surface be cleaned with a mild detergent and then rinsed off with water. Now, if you have pets, they can still “take care of business” as usual but hosing down the areas and picking up what they leave behind is still required every week. In order to keep fake grass looking fluffy and realistic, periodic raking and vacuuming is required. Remember how real grass acts as an “air conditioner?” Well, the sun makes synthetic turf hotter than real grass so depending on where a person lives they might need to continually cool it down with water.

Synthetic turf poses big problems from an environmental, economical, and maintenance perspective. Like most technologies, there are pros and cons when it comes to its usage. Looking at the overall picture of how any action will affect our surroundings is a consideration everyone needs to take before making a decision. So call us biased, but we like the benefits of having real turf – naturally!

This article was provided by NaturaLawn of America. For information on how to get an environmentally friendly lawn, contact NaturaLawn of America at (800) 989-5444, or visit the company’s website online.

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