You know artificial turf. The stuff is used everywhere from sports fields to mini golf courses. In recent times, it has been becoming popular for use by homeowners as a way to cut down on regular maintenance and save water. As the desire to save time and save the environment increases over time, more and more people have been seriously considering ditching their traditional lawns and bringing in the fake stuff.
Even in Seattle, known for its plentiful rains, the allure of never having to mow again and saving on the water bill is becoming all that more powerful. However, fake grass, or turf, may not be all that it’s cracked up to be. Before you go ripping out your lawn completely, there are some things you may want to consider
Here is a list of reasons you may want to reconsider going with synthetic lawn products.
- Maintenance Required: Just because you never have to mow your lawn again doesn’t mean you won’t EVER have to do ANYTHING to your artificial turf. You will need to keep it clear of debris to keep it in top shape and looking nice. Aside from that, did you know in order to keep your turf looking it’s best you will have to actually RAKE IT? Doesn’t that sound like a pain in the butt?
- Cost: You probably already had a lawn when you moved into your place, and yeah it costs a little to upkeep, what with gas for the mower and fertilizer, etc. But an artificial lawn can be expensive. You can expect to pay up to $30 per square foot. That means if you have even a small 500 square foot yard, you could be looking at a cost of as much as $15,000!
- Your Windows Face South: The south side of your home gets the full force of the sun during the summer. If you have southern facing windows, the reflection of the sun off of them could actually cause your turf to melt. This happens frequently enough that the occurrence is specifically excluded from warranties provided by turf manufacturers.
- Drainage: Living in the rainy Pacific Northwest, drainage of your turf is definitely something you are going to have to think about. If you have water pooling on your turf installation, it is going to cause some real problems over time. Depending on the drainage capabilities of the soil in your yard, and grade of your yard, you may need to install additional drainage systems.
- The Color Will Fade: Part of the allure of a synthetic lawn is that bright green. But, like most things in life, it won’t last forever. Some manufacturers guarantee the color for 10 years. We think you can expect your fake grass to keep it’s hue for up to 20.
- Unsightly Seams: If you have a big yard, it may require multiple rolls of turf to cover the whole thing. The hardest part installing turf is matching up the seam that adjoins the adjacent roll to make it look “seamless” and natural. If the person installing your fake grass doesn’t get it 100% right, you could be stuck looking at some unsightly seams forever.
- Can’t Be Recycled: Many turf manufacturers will tell you that their turf can be recycled. And sure, it can, but will it? The sad fact is that old turf will rarely make it over to the recycling bin. Most of the time it will just end up in the landfill.
You already know the advantages of a synthetic lawn, now you know the downsides. Despite these disadvantages, you still might choose to go with the ol’ astroturf. You may even decide to go without a lawn at all! Keep these points in mind as you are weighing the options and deciding which landscaping style is best for you!