Pros and Cons of Artificial Grass

Since Arizona is primarily composed of desert land, with very little rainfall, and there are very valid concerns about future water supply from the Colorado River, you may have considered installing artificial grass instead of real grass in your front or back yard.

One of the biggest reasons to install artificial turf is the lack of maintenance.  Gone will be the mornings of mowing, weeding and trimming your grass.  Instead, you’ll merely need to rake off some leaves and debris occasionally.  Moreover, gas-powered lawnmowers and leaf blowers contribute to airborne pollution.  Additionally, with artificial grass, you won’t have to pay for fertilizer, watering or seeding, so the ongoing maintenance costs will be nixed.  Another upside to artificial turf is its appearance.  Your lawns will always be green, verdant, and lush-looking.  The average life expectancy of artificial turf, depending on the product itself, is 15-25 years, so it likely will something you won’t have to deal with the entire time you live in your home.   Finally, there are many more options of artificial grass nowadays, with many more realistic artificial turf choices out there, instead of the plastic-looking turf of yore.

Some of the cons of artificial turf to consider are first, the cost.  Artificial grass averages around $7/square foot, so the initial output can be considerable.  (This cost, of course, should be balanced against the maintenance and landscaping costs of real grass on an annual basis).  Also, there are some concerns about “off-gassing” with artificial turf.  The synthetic components of artificial grass may not be safe for children and/or pets, and when heated in the Arizona sun, these toxic effects may be amplified.  So it definitely pays to conduct some research as to the healthier options if you go this route.  (For example, look for options that don’t contain a crumb rubber infill.)   Finally, in Arizona at least, the temperature of artificial grass as opposed to real grass can be a real concern.   The surface temperature of artificial grass can exceed 150 degrees Fahrenheit, which makes this surface a very real danger.  Watering down the surface on hotter days can ameliorate this risk, but this may negate the fact that you’re trying to reduce water usage.

We’d be happy to discuss these pros and cons with you, especially with regard to listing or buying a home.

About Chris and Cheryl Park, REALTORS®