Synthetic turf is an investment. Before spending your green for green that lasts all year round, consider whether artificial turf is right for you and your yard.
Do your research on synthetic turf and have your questions answered by a professional. There’s a lot to learn about fake grass before installing it in your yard. For instance, artificial turf may save gallons of water, but whether it’s more eco-friendly than real grass is an ongoing debate.
Let’s take a look at artificial turf’s pros and cons:
Pros:
✓ It saves water
Sod needs frequent watering to flourish and survive. The heavy use of irrigation water is a concern in areas with periodic droughts.
Artificial turf doesn’t grow, so you don’t need to water it. Fake grass helps conserve water and lower water bills.
✓ No fertilizer or pesticides
Fertilizers and pesticides help your sod grow, but they can be harmful to the ecosystem, waterways, and groundwater. Not needing to use fertilizers and pesticides also saves on maintenance costs.
✓ No lawn mowing
Gasoline power tools like lawn mowers and string trimmers emit carbon dioxide into the air. Artificial turf avoids this pollution, as fake grass doesn’t require any trimming maintenance.
✓ Some artificial turfs are made of recycled materials
Some manufacturers use recycled materials, such as old tires, to make turf.
✓ It can save you money in the long term
Depending on the type of artificial turf you install and the amount you need, fake grass can pay for itself over time. Although sod is cheaper to install, its maintenance costs continue year after year. Synthetic turf, on the other hand, costs very little to maintain.
✓ Always looks good
Whether it’s sitting in the shade or the snow is falling, artificial turf will always look like a fresh green carpet as long as you take care of it.
Cons:
✗ It’s made of plastic
Plastic isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think of nature. Artificial turf is not a natural part of a lawn’s ecosystem. If protecting your yard’s natural environment is a concern of yours, sod may be the better option.