Artificial grass has come a long way from the spiky, rough, plasticky Astroturf of childhood. Modern artificial grass is soft and luxuriant, and it can save time, money, and even the environment. So let’s jump into it and learn everything you need to know about manufactured grass!
Why Artificial Grass?
The average American spends 32 hours a month working on their lawn. That’s more than a full day! With 32 extra hours a month, people could indulge more in their hobbies, catch up on reading, or contribute a little more to their communities.
If that wasn’t enough, just 500 square feet of lawn usually takes 67,500 gallons of water a year. That’s enough to fill three swimming pools. For anyone west of the Rockies, where the water crisis is only getting worse, that amount of water use is harder and harder to justify. An explanation of the water crisis is here: https://apnews.com/article/business-health-environment-and-nature-climate-change-89ff76829e3a3c7ed514320e9a40df8f
Artificial grass is a solution to both of those problems. It saves time, water, and money. It also stands up to heavy use, which makes it useful both for sports stadiums and for people who host outdoor parties—or even just people with a lot of children. Anyone who finds their lawn beaten down by people passing over it too much can benefit from artificial grass.
When Should Artificial Grass Be Used?
Arid regions, such as in the western United States, can benefit most from manufactured grass. With near-constant drought conditions and rising water prices, an artificial lawn is the best way to save money while also improving the environment. Here’s some quick back-of-the-napkin math to show how massively this could affect cities, or even whole states.
In Phoenix, AZ, there are 420,000 homes with lawns. The average size is almost 7,500 square feet, and don’t forget that every 500 square feet uses 67,500 gallons a year. If every house in Phoenix replaced their yards with false grass, they would save more than 425 billion gallons of water. That’s almost half of Phoenix’s entire water use! Their own website shows how serious the water problem is in Phoenix.
The southwest United States isn’t the only place where false lawns are worth it, though. It’s useful anywhere in the country, or even in other countries. People who install manufactured grass can save on their water bill and enjoy more free time. Mowing the lawn isn’t anybody’s favorite activity—with an artificial lawn, there’s no more mowing, ever.
Artificial grass can even be used indoors! It can give any indoor sports room an outdoor sports feel, from table tennis to video game sports. It can also give dogs a better indoor bathroom than your carpet (although, if used for this purpose, it needs to be cleaned VERY regularly).
How to Use Artificial Grass
Trying to replace a home’s entire lawn can be intimidating. Most places that sell manufactured lawns can also install them, but to save money, homeowners can also perform the diy artificial grass installation process themselves.
The first step in installation is to clear the area, removing all previous grass, weeds, and stones, and compact the dirt underneath to create a more even, solid surface. The same black weed barrier fabric that separates people’s gardens from the dirt beneath is also useful, to prevent weeds growing up through the artificial lawn. Next, there should be a layer of gravel or small stones, about 3-4 inches deep, which allows water to drain through the lawn. Then homeowners can finally attach the grass, which is best done with small metal pins to hold it down. The last small step is trimming the edges, and the lawn is installed!
Of course, one or two people doing this process will take more time than a team of professionals. Home installations also come at greater risk of improper installation, resulting in drainage problems and shorter life. Users should weigh cost and convenience to choose the best option for their specific needs. There are other cost-saving measures; some companies even offer recycled artificial grass, taken from sports fields and large facilities, at a steep discount.
Once the false lawn is installed, what care does it need? There are a few basic requirements. Grills and fire pits should be placed on a patio instead of on the lawn, as they can burn and damage the fibers. The most important thing to remember is that this grass will not grow back if anything happens to it. Mowing is unnecessary and may damage the artificial turf, although weeds may still grow, and should be removed.
Occasionally, the lawn may need active maintenance, especially in a house with pets. Spilled food needs to be cleaned off, like with carpet, instead of disappearing into the dirt like normal. Leaves should still be raked regularly, and a leaf blower can quickly remove any accumulated dust, leaves, or other debris.
Lawn care can be much simpler than it is right now. Artificial grass is the way to the future.