What Is Artificial Grass?

The first widely recognized use of artificial grass was in 1966 when the Houston Astros baseball team installed artificial grass in their indoor stadium after several failed attempts to grow grass. Today, artificial grass or turf refers to a material made of synthetic, manufactured fibers, made to look like natural grass. The individual fibers of the turf are typically made from a blend of materials, including nylon, polypropylene, or polyethylene, that are then connected to a backing material. In some applications, a base material is added between the fibers. The backing material stabilizes and cushions the artificial turf's area.

What Types of Artificial Grass Are Available Today?

In the past, most artificial grasses looked like an ugly green carpet, with minimal resemblance to natural grass. In more recent times, however, artificial turf manufacturers have gone to great lengths to make their products resemble natural grass. In an attempt to capture a larger share of the residential landscaping markets, artificial grass manufacturers now offer their products with synthetic grass blades colored in different shades of green and in various pile heights. SynLawn , one leading artificial grass company, actually manufactures their synthetic lawns to appear like other types of grass, such as Augustine grass or Fescue turf. Some companies are trying to reduce reliance on petro-chemicals in their turf products. SynLawn, for example, incorporates a high percentage of bio-based polymers primarily sourced from soybeans in the manufacture of their different artificial grass designs.

How Much Water and Energy Does Artificial Grass Save?

One of the main "selling points" for artificial grass is that it is purported to drastically reduce the energy and water requirements associated with regular lawn care. Synthetic fibers made from polypropylene will not need to be irrigated nor watered. Based on the statistics we shared above, this "advantage" of artificial turf certainly appears to help reduce the carbon footprint and water-use footprint of North American households. However, it is essential to consider the embodied energy footprint that comes with artificial turf. Instead of purchasing seed at your local store and spreading it over your lawn in early spring, artificial grass is sourced from petrochemical raw materials and is energy-intensive in its manufacture. Many turf products are manufactured overseas, which further increases its embodied energy footprint. Many artificial grass installers will require an almost perfectly flat surface for installation, thus requiring heavy machinery to compact and level the land around your home. This feature requires even more fossil fuel use.

Is Artificial Grass Healthy?

A drawback associated with artificial grass is that there are several health concerns related to these products. Many turf products come pre-treated with biocides . This step is taken because some studies have found that synthetic turf has been associated with an increased risk of infections from methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Recent laboratory tests carried about by the Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) find that many turf products contain the highly toxic fluorinated chemicals known as PFAS. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that exposure to PFAS has a host of health effects associated, including cancer, liver damage, decreased fertility, and increased risk of asthma and thyroid disease. That's not exactly what you want in the areas where your children play.

How Is Artificial Grass Made?

Most artificial grass products are manufactured in a fashion that is similar to carpets. A solid backing is the foundation of the turf, while the individual blades are machine-stitched onto the backing. Most artificial grass manufacturers include brown thatch fibers that mimic the look of dead grass that you would see on a natural grass lawn for residential applications.

How Long Does Artificial Grass Last?

Most artificial turf companies will offer a standard warranty of between 2 and 8 years. In general, homeowners can expect the higher quality grass products to last between 10 to 15 years, depending on the use. Though some manufacturers claim that artificial turf is recyclable, many local recycling operations will not take artificial grass. This issue has led to large volumes of artificial grass is being sent to landfills. According to one recent investigative report , "used artificial turf is expected to produce 1 million to 4 million tons of waste in the next 10 years, and it has nowhere to go, according to solid waste industry analysts."

What Are the Pros and Cons of Artificial Grass?

From the manufacturer's publicity claims, it might seem like artificial grass is a sustainable wonder product. They report that it can reduce your carbon footprint, drastically lower your monthly water bill, and free up your summer evenings so that you don't have to pull out the mower from the garage. Authentic problems are associated with conventional lawns in North America. But, replacing natural grass with its manufactured counterpart made from petrochemicals is probably a step backward on the scale of environmental friendliness.

Artificial Grass: A Viable Option for Lawns?