- Home
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.
It is important to note that natural grasslands and prairies can act as a carbon "sink." They essentially capture excess amounts of carbon dioxide from the air and deposit that carbon in the fertile soil. Indeed, most lawns do not boast the carbon capturing potential of natural prairies. But, turning your yard into a "prairie garden" could be another strategy that allows homeowners to do their part to sequester carbon.
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.
Tobias Roberts
Tobias runs an agroecology farm and a natural building collective in the mountains of El Salvador. He specializes in earthen construction methods and uses permaculture design methods to integrate structures into the sustainability of the landscape.
