More and more homeowners are making the switch to artificial grass, and for good reason. Artificial turf offers a long list of advantages over natural grass, from practical perks like reduced maintenance to unexpected environmental bonuses.
If you care about conservation and green living, artificial grass should be on your radar.
Low Maintenance, High Rewards
Caring for a traditional lawn is labor-intensive, requiring regular mowing, watering, fertilizing, and more. Artificial grass is a set-it-and-forget-it landscaping option. Once fake turf is installed properly, it practically takes care of itself for years.
Without pesky water bills, endless mowing, or costly chemicals, your outdoor maintenance workload will be slashed dramatically.
The icing on the cake? Synthetic grass always looks pristine and lush, no matter the weather or season. Natural turf can’t compete with immaculate artificial blades that retain their vibrant color and soft texture indefinitely.
Major Water Savings
The average American family uses a staggering 300 gallons of water per day tending to lawns and gardens. That adds up to nearly 100,000 gallons per year per household for outdoor irrigation alone.
Installing synthetic turf eliminates the need to water landscaping entirely, saving hundreds of thousands of gallons over your lifetime. This aids drought-stricken communities and prevents waste, all while padding your wallet.
You’ll also conserve the water and energy used to maintain natural grass, including washing mowers and other equipment.
Every time you mow, chemicals and clippings run off into storm drains and leach into groundwater, harming local ecosystems. Preventing this dangerous runoff is another benefit of fake grass.
Greener Products, Cleaner Production
Artificial turf ingredients are primarily polyethylene and polyurethane, with newer products featuring up to 90% recycled post-consumer and post-industrial plastics. Turf recycling programs allow old synthetic grass to be reused rather than landfilled.
Many turf manufacturers have achieved ISO certifications for their environmental management systems as well.
Most fake grass is free of toxic chemicals and made to be non-flammable. As well as being PFAS free, which are known as forever chemicals. The newest “cool plastic” innovations reflect heat and radiation better while remaining soft underfoot.
When produced ethically, artificial turf beats natural grass in terms of sustainability. You can even install fake grass on garage and patio surfaces to soak up rainwater and mitigate runoff.
Fewer Emissions
It’s estimated that running a gasoline mower for one hour emits as many hydrocarbons as driving 200 miles in a car, and gasoline mowers contribute to five percent of the air pollution in the United States. Yard equipment also generates high levels of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds — key precursors to ozone pollution.
Simply by installing synthetic turf and ditching the mower, households can prevent thousands of pounds of harmful emissions annually.
Multiply these savings by municipalities, golf courses, and sports stadiums, and the air quality impact of environmentally friendly artificial grass becomes exponential. Other related factors like manufacturing and transporting fertilizer also contribute to emissions.
When evaluating lawn care options based on their carbon footprint, artificial turf is the clear eco-conscious choice over natural grass. Paired with electric landscaping tools and equipment, fake grass offers a zero-emissions approach.
What About the Disadvantages of Artificial Turf?
Artificial grass indeed has some limitations. Purely synthetic lawns don’t offer the cooling effects, oxygen production, or water absorption you get from living plants.
Many of these cons are resolved by installing artificial grass over properly graded and porous aggregate instead of concrete, supplementing turf with trees and container gardens, and selecting cooler, more eco-friendly turf materials.
With smart design and conscientious production methods, the environmental impacts of artificial grass continue to make it an excellent landscaping pick over traditional grass or sod.
Artificial Grass: FAQs
Can I just lay artificial grass on soil?
It’s not recommended to install artificial grass directly on top of the soil. The fake grass needs a solid base beneath it such as crushed stone, gravel, or concrete to allow drainage and prevent sinking, rippling, or shifting.
An aggregate base also helps smooth any bumps and dips in the existing land. Proper base preparation is key to the longevity of the turf.
Is it cheaper to lay turf or artificial grass?
In most cases, it is cheaper to install grass that is artificial than natural sod. The upfront cost to purchase green artificial grass may be more expensive by square foot, but it pays for itself over time thanks to nearly zero maintenance expenses.
Natural sod requires regular mowing, watering, fertilizing, and replacement — costs that quickly add up. Artificial grass is a long-term investment that saves money year after year.
What time of year should you lay artificial grass?
Fake grass can technically be installed any time temperatures are above freezing. However, late spring through early fall tends to be ideal.
This window has warmer weather to speed adhesive curing and turf bonding while avoiding extreme heat that makes working outside uncomfortable during installation. The growing season also makes it easier to remove existing vegetation before prepping the base beneath new turf.
Conclusion
When weighing your options, think holistically about the long-term costs and the environmental impacts of artificial grass versus natural.
Artificial turf steers clear of toxic pesticides, eliminates mowing, and significantly cuts down on water waste over time — adding up to serious sustainability perks. Plus, advanced artificial grass looks and feels better than ever.
By choosing fake grass, households like yours can prevent thousands of pounds of emissions, plastic waste, and chemical runoff annually while saving big on bills. The numbers speak for themselves: artificial turf is the environmentally responsible, budget-friendly alternative to traditional lawns.
Give fake grass a chance, and enjoy gorgeous, low-maintenance curb appeal that happens to be green in more ways than one.
Let NexGen Lawns artificial grass reap environmental benefits!
