The idea of putting away the mower forever sounds appealing, but synthetic grass comes with its own set of problems. Artificial grass is often touted for hot climates with low rainfall where grass struggles to grow without lots of watering. Before you tear up your existing lawn, understand the potential drawbacks of the synthetic grass.
A synthetic lawn is expensive to install. Costs include grass removal, ground preparation and materials. Artificial turf systems come with the option of drainage systems and irrigation to control the temperature of the grass, which increase the cost. The artificial grass costs from $8 to $14 per square foot, noted Mark Radeke of Easy Turf in a 2010 article featured on KPBS, a public radio station in San Diego, California. If you have a large yard, the overall cost of the project adds up quickly.
Real grass has a cooling effect when the air temperature is high. Artificial grass lacks this cooling quality. The grass itself may become hotter than the air and can make the surrounding air feel hotter. A hidden water system can keep the synthetic grass cooler to the touch so it feels more comfortable on your feet. The material used as padding beneath the synthetic grass affects the temperature. Special products in the padding keep grass temperatures lower. A light color in the artificial grass blades is another way to cool the lawn.
Real grass and natural landscaping materials allow rainwater to seep down into the soil. Synthetic turf is typically designed to allow water to soak through, but it may not allow all rainwater to seep down into the soil, especially if the soil underneath becomes compacted. The storm water runoff carries debris into the storm sewers, where water sources can become polluted.
You may have concerns about the material used to make synthetic grass. Real grass is a living ground cover that produces oxygen as it grows. The environmental impact of artificial grass varies. The padding is often made of recycled tires, which keeps them out of the landfill, but the petroleum-based artificial grass materials are far from natural. Research about the safety of using this artificial materials on the lawn is limited, so it's up to you to decide for yourself if the grass is a healthy option for covering the yard. Padding material not made from rubber is available if you have concerns about covering your lawn in the material.
You won't have to mow anymore, but your synthetic grass still requires care to keep it looking attractive. You need to sweep or spray the grass to remove debris that falls onto the surface. Sanitation of the lawn is also a concern. Everything from blood to your dog's poop contaminate the artificial grass. While contaminants rinse off real grass, synthetic grass doesn't have the same trait. You will need to clean up any messes that could potentially be a health hazard.
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