Artificial turf has many advantages over natural grass, but there are some disadvantages as well. For instance, while fake grass is more durable than natural grass, it is not environmentally friendly. While some companies use only recycled plastic in their fake grass products, other companies go with virgin vinyl.
This type of plastic is much more durable and requires less maintenance, making it a better overall choice. However, you can create your own "artificial turf" by planting grass clippings and other natural materials in the ground to mimic the look of turf. Even if you go with a natural look, you can still choose to make your artificial grass completely organic. By creating a dense plastic barrier on top of compacted soil and sand, no garden material can reach the soil beneath it. Things like leaf litter and grass clippings, which may be in tiny amounts in a normal garden after mowing and tidying but still exist. Natural materials like this are essential for feeding soil organisms like worms and microscopic animals that keep soil healthy.
This is little different to impermeable hard landscaping like patios but a really important point if you're considering replacing a living lawn with a fake lawn. Even if you remove all clippings and leaves from a real lawn, real grass grows and dies back and rejuvenates every year. Roots grow and die, some leaves die and these form natural material drawn into the soil to feed soil life.
I could go into great detail about why soil life is important because it's the building blocks of our entire way of life; a simple example is birds picking out bugs and worms for food. Some astro turf will have worms beneath but this will be under a new laying or toward the edges where soil is richer from nearby planting. Over time, there will be nothing beneath fake grass for most soil life to survive. Overall, fake grass has its advantages and disadvantages, but it is up to you to determine if synthetic grass is the right choice for your home or business.
Do your research, get Fake Grass professional recommendations, and read the ingredients in the synthetic products to ensure that you are getting what you want. If you're comfortable with the decision, go ahead and set up your artificial lawn. Make sure you get quality materials and install them properly so that you can enjoy your new lawn for years to come. Synthetic grass may be cheap initially, but in the long run, it can save you money and keep your maintenance costs down. Artificial grass's pros and cons have come a long way since its inception in the 1960s. It is now quite possible to plant artificial grass without the form of fake grass.
Another topic to cover when talking about pros and cons is water usage. In a residential area, naturally grown grass requires a lot of water, especially if you use a sprinkler system. With synthetic grass, however, there is minimal watering required.
The only time you need to "water" your artificial grass is to clean it off. Artificial grass has become a very popular choice for landscaping in homes, schools, businesses, parks, and many other places. Often called artificial turf or fake grass, artificial grass really looks very similar to natural grass, without any of the disadvantages of real natural grass. In fact, it can be installed almost anywhere you like, right down to gardens and sidewalks!
What are the disadvantages of artificial grass The only drawback to using fake grass is that it does not provide as much visual impact as real grass would. It is much more forgiving of minor imperfections such as splinters or bald spots. However, there are several ways artificial grass can be adjusted to improve its appearance. Astro turf is made from a variety of human made unnatural materials including polyethylene, polypropylene and nylon. These materials are built to last, potentially for centuries. While individually these components can theoretically be recycled, in reality this isn't happening for fake lawns for the following reasons.
Some products are made from just one material which means at least, theoretically they can be recycled. You can't recycle plastics with contaminants in like soil and grit, which is why we're supposed to rinse plastic before putting in the recycling bin. Thirdly, this is a specialist form of recycling, local councils certainly aren't set up to recycle rolls of fake grass, they need to be sent away. What will most people prefer, dumping it for free in the local tip or paying for it to be taken away and cleaned for recycling? Hopefully one day it can be recycled as we need the existing lawns to be recycled, but that doesn't account for the remaining 14 points.
For yard owners, either the grass is greener in their side of the fence or it isn't. Those who want low maintenance turf would right away go for the unnatural grass where there is virtually no mowing, no watering, no applying of fertilizer, no whatnots. But there's a not-so greener side of synthetic grass that yard owners need to know. Here, we'll try to understand the pros and cons of artificial grass as a first step to deciding whether it's the best turf or not. Another disadvantage to using artificial grass for your yard is that it can be a health issue for pets and children.
The material can collect dust and other residues from feet, causing allergies and asthma attacks in these individuals. Additionally, there is evidence that people who suffer from respiratory illnesses such as asthma have been negatively affected by synthetic grass. Regardless of whether or not it is a genuine grass alternative, artificial turf can be an unnecessary addition to your lawn.
It certainly doesn't offer the same benefits to your lawn that natural grass does, which is one reason why many homeowners turn to alternatives. Replacing real grass with fake lawns saves time on lawn care, stops children and dogs tracking muddy footprints through your home, and creates a safe, hygienic surface for outdoor play. Artificial grass is gaining ground in gardens, sports centres and hotels worldwide because of its many advantages vs. natural grass. The most obvious perks make artificial grass a flexible and affordable solution for an evergreen lawn.
But did you know that it even brings more peace and tranquillity to your home? This may sound really silly if you're thinking of installing plastic grass, escaping a natural surface is probably one of the reasons you want it in the first place, but I urge you to think again. I actually feel this is one of the most important points on this list.
Some of my favourite childhood memories are sitting on a soft lawn, hands on the grass, plucking a blade of grass to whistle with, or a daisy or dandelion flower, or a plantain leaf. That sense of touch and the smell of mown grass is such an important part of my life experience and remains so today. I feel sad at the thought of children growing up with fake lawns and everything they will miss in those early years as a result. Even getting a bit muddy or seeing a spider, all of these things are little life experiences that make us who we are. There are artificial grass pros and cons, except for the obvious aesthetics.
Awesome guaranty, standard production, and environmental advantages have completely changed the theory of artificial grass. Believing this is a valuable, cost-effective alternative to natural turf. Now, this would not be an appropriate estimate if we do not even consider the disadvantages of artificial grass. Although we like things, there are some areas we advise you to consider before buying. Apart from the obvious aesthetics of artificial turf compared to natural turf, there are advantages and disadvantages of artificial turf. Impressive guarantees, the safe installation of artificial turf anywhere can be a valuable and cost-effective alternative to natural turf.
But if we do not take into account the disadvantages of artificial turf, this assessment will not be fair. We recommend that you review the pros and cons of using artificial turf before buying. The fact that artificial grass just isn't natural is first on the list of disadvantages of artificial grass for some people. A healthy natural green lawn is an emotional thing and even provides a sense of pride for some homeowners. In Canada and specifically the Okanagan, a lush growing lawn can even be looked at as a status symbol.
It takes a lot of money, time and effort to keep a lawn green in the Okanagan summer. To be honest, I had no idea what to expect with artificial grass. I wanted to spend less time working in the yard each week, and a friend suggested I check out Ideal Turf. Since the installation, we've reduced our water bill by 81% and maintenance costs by about 98%. I may have been skeptical at first, but now, I'll never own a natural grass lawn again! Our kids and dog LOVE it, and I get to spend time playing with them on the artificial grass, as opposed to maintaining it.
There are lots of benefits of artificial grass, aside from the obvious aesthetics. Now it wouldn't be a fair assessment if we didn't also consider the disadvantages of artificial grass. Although we love the stuff, there are a few areas we advise you look into before purchasing.
Pay very close attention to how companies help you decide what material is right for your property. They may have a distinct preference, but they should present you with all the pros and cons of artificial grass, as well as any for natural lawn areas. A company that truly cares about you making an informed decision will discuss in detail any problems with artificial grass, or maintenance challenges of real grass.
They should help you make a decision you're educated about and comfortable with. There are also growing concerns about the impact of the synthetic chemicals that are added to artificial grass on human health and the environment. The EU has been investigating specialist artificial turf used on sports fields for suspected carcinogens, and is considering banning intentionally added microplastics. While these are different products to those sold to home gardeners, Berg says artificial pitches are sometimes reused for landscaping. Natural lawns or planting allow water to drain into the soil surface easily, helping to lock deluges of rain in the ground.
Whereas solid surfaces cause run off which leads to flooding usually by overloading drains and sewers with too much water all at once. Occasionally they contribute to direct flooding too, especially in paved front gardens. Obviously this is going to be better than impermeable patios but it's not an either or game, we need to be aware of these issues and choose other options that don't cause run off . When synthetic turf first came onto the scene in the 1950s, some believed that artificial grass would replace natural grass as the standard for lawns.
In fact, plastic and synthetic manufacturing companies speculated that synthetic turf might eliminate the practice of mowing, water, and raking lawns. Now, with advanced materials and installation, artificial grass is quickly becoming the standard for your yard. Artificial grass has come a long way since the days of the astroturf in the Brady family's backyard. Manufacturers are getting better at turning the old lime green carpet into products that more closely resemble real grass. Newer types of artificial grass combine innovative new textures and slight color variations to mimic natural lawns. Whereas, natural grass models have extremely high maintenance costs.
Fake grass models do not need periodic maintenance, unlike natural grass. Therefore, only minimal maintenance is required to be flawless. Another advantage is that it can be mounted on any surface such as concrete, soil, floors, and tiles.
For the water to drain well, we only need to leave a small slope and straighten it. Also, this type of grass resists weather conditions very well. It will stay in good condition during the summer when it is used most. It also has a high drainage capacity Therefore, excess water does not pose a problem.
Another significant positive aspect of installing artificial grass is its durability. It can withstand various elements and intense usage over the years. Moreover, artificial turfs also have excellent drainage systems that help prevent the creation of puddles and work on drying up any fluids or moisture from the surface immediately. Spaces with artificial grass can also be ideal for sports and play, as they are superior in terms of consistency of surface and evenness compared to natural grass.
The installation of artificial grass generally requires the intervention of a professional, which increases the already high costs at the time of purchase. It is important to consider the quality of the soil and water drainage before deciding to install the grass. The soil must be able to support the weight of the lawn and you must adapt the type of turf to the situation. In addition, it is not uncommon to have to prepare the ground before laying the sod. Our list of disadvantages of artificial grass wouldn't be complete without taking a look at the appearance of synthetic lawns. There is no question that some artificial grass looks fake and the blades resemble the needles of an 1980's fake Christmas tree.
Luckily this trend has passed and the artificial grass products manufactured today actually look like real grass and some are so real you might not even know it's fake until you get up close. Artificial grass retains more heat than natural grass and that is a fact. Natural grass holds moisture and in turn stays cooler to the touch than synthetic grass. This is especially noticeable in the hot summer months when artificial grass receives direct sunlight throughout the day. It's one of the most frustrating disadvantages of artificial grass for anyone that has children and pets that find it too hot to walk on midday.
While synthetic grass may look and feel like the real thing some simply can't get past the fact that it's plastic. It is hailed for its water-saving benefits, but artificial turf has its own environmental drawbacks. It is a petroleum-based product that creates pollution and waste in the manufacturing process. And, while it is often made partially with recycled materials, it is not biodegradable.
After a long life of from 15 to 25 years, it will, ultimately, end up in a landfill. 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 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.
The others have been listed- an artificial turf creates zero of these concerns. Is that natural lawn requires a lot of chemicals such as pesticides or fertilizers. This makes synthetic grass perfect for your children, pets, and as well as for the environment. Saving is one of the most important advantages of fake grass.
