Artificial Grass: A Viable Option for Lawns?
Last Updated: Mar 19, 2025Recently, artificial grass has begun to grow in popularity as a low-maintenance option for residential lawns and landscaping. Synthetic grass used to be found almost exclusively in sports fields and athletic complexes. However, innovative designs that more realistically replicate traditional lawns have allowed artificial grass to make inroads into the residential market. In this short article, we take an in-depth look at the pros and cons of grass for the space around your home.
Table of Contents
- The Dark Side of Conventional Lawns
- What Is Artificial Grass?
- What Types of Artificial Grass Are Available Today?
- How Much Water and Energy Does Artificial Grass Save?
- Is Artificial Grass Healthy?
- How Is Artificial Grass Made?
- How Long Does Artificial Grass Last?
- What Are the Pros and Cons of Artificial Grass?
Given these statistics, replacing a conventional lawn might seem like a no-brainer for homeowners who want to reduce their carbon footprint and limit their exposure to potentially dangerous chemicals. Here at Rise, we have written extensively about alternative landscaping options to the emblematic green turn lawn that has become the traditional standard. Check out our articles on how to grow a lawn without chemicals, the role of permaculture zones in changing your landscape design, and xeriscaping opportunities to reduce water consumption drastically.
Despite the practicality of these alternative landscaping options, many homeowners across North America will scoff at the idea of getting rid of their green lawn. Might there be a way for homeowners to enjoy a green lawn without the environmental costs associated with pesticide use, water use for irrigation, and fossil fuel use for maintenance?
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.
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.
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.
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.
