You might be checking this article on your way to researching whether or not artificial grass is a worthy investment. You might even still be skeptical of its pros and cons. Regardless of how you got here, you probably have a lawn you’re maintaining and you’re at least considering the possibility of making the switch. So let’s walk through what exactly is artificial grass and whether or not it’s for you.
Artificial grass is what it describes itself to be, but with a lot more perks than what you might expect. For one, artificial grass has come a long way where most people can’t tell the difference between an artificially installed turf or a beautifully manicured all natural garden. One of its main perks is that it offers a wider variety of applications - both indoor and outdoor, with a higher success rate for those not lucky to have been born with a green thumb. But beyond that, what are the other reasons for making the shift?
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There’s a handful of reasons for artificial grass’s popularity as a lawn alternative and they usually fall under the following points:
According to this study from the University of California, lawns have been singled out as the biggest water wasting culprits, estimated to use about 40-60% of landscape irrigation in the California state alone. This much waste tends to come from both inefficient irrigation methods and overwatering - the latter usually from attempts to fix patching in most lawn areas.
Artificial grass on lawns typically use less than half of that same amount of water with weekly or bi-weekly hose downs to spray down dust, debris, and pet waste if you have them. In places like Texas where droughts are common, an artificial grass covered lawn would save you from water restrictions.
There’s a common misconception about artificial grass being bad for the environment, but the opposite is actually true. In the time of a climate crisis, we all have to do our part for the environment. For one thing, artificial grass doesn’t need fertilizers or chemical weed killers and pesticides - all products that not only tend to seep into groundwater, but whose manufacturing processes are great contributors to CO2 emissions.
The EPA attributes lawns adding up to at least 5% of America’s annual pollution on top of the typical roster of lawn maintenance chemicals. The total upkeep of the natural grass lawn is costly both financially and to the environment which is why artificial grass has been increasing in popularity as the eco-friendly alternative. Which also leads us to -
The American Dream of a home and white picket fence is nothing without a beautiful green lawn. The durability and weather resistance of an artificial lawn has been proven to increase a home’s value. Nothing like a low-maintenance yard to entice buyers into a deal of a lifetime for their dream home.
For furparents everywhere, artificial grass might be the solution for some of the sore points of being a lawn-owner. Especially for dogs, natural grass usually can’t hold up to the rough play and lifestyle and fall victim to a handful of lawn issues like brown spots from their waste, mud tracking on wetter days, and the hole digging. There's not much you can do to work against an animal's natural instinct so the smart furparent would work with their pets. Installing fake grass would transform your yard into a pet-friendly haven that will last for years with much lower maintenance than a natural yard.
Whether you have a cat or dog or a much more unique pet, there’s a pet-friendly turf that could be the option for you. Additional considerations would need to be made for pet friendly set-ups and here’s a few of the recommended options:
More often than not, the reality is that artificial grass is a smarter investment. The only other answer depends on individual situations and short term vs. long term goals. To help set your financial expectations, here’s a few realities:
When isn’t it worth it?
We all have different lives to live and we all vary in situations. While you may be considering the switch to artificial grass, here’s a few specific instances where the switch may not be worth the money:
Except for these specific instances, artificial grass is a guaranteed good investment.
Ready to make the switch?
If you’re convinced to make the switch, then feel free to browse around our turf options, or connect with one of our turf professionals here on Turflow to help you get started.
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