The Truth About Turf

By theadmin

People are often shocked when a horticulturist recommends that they consider artificial turf. However, synthetic grass can be just the right solution for certain tough landscape situations. If there’s one thing homeowners seem to do with consistency, it’s trying to grow lush lawns under the wrong conditions: too much shade, too little water, or even too much dog.

Letting go of your lawn can be a tough thing to do. As Americans, we’ve been indoctrinated to think of a lush lawn as the benchmark of a successful landscape. But as times change and water resources become more limited, it’s time to rethink the lawn’s purpose. Not that lawns don’t have their benefits. Vegetative growth, such as lawns, are very important in urban environments. They mitigate the heat load and reduce your electricity use, improve air quality, and help reduce runoff and soil erosion. Lawns have their place in a healthy environment. Unfortunately, homeowners tend to overdo it when it comes to fertilizing and watering. We use too much of both, trying to solve problems they can’t solve, such as shade. Now that strong watering restrictions are in place throughout Texas, most of us are looking for ways to cut back on landscape water.

If you’ve been struggling to grow a lush lawn in too much shade, around a pool, or with big dogs, chances are you’ve been fighting a losing battle. Under these circumstances, turf grasses have a tough time thriving. Grasses are sun-loving plants, so they simply can’t tolerate too much shade. Water that’s continually splashed out around pools can damage the surrounding lawn, and big dogs just make a muddy mess of things. In the meantime, you’ve probably been wasting a lot of water to maintain your lawn in these situations to no avail.

Artificial turf is often a good solution for such problem lawn areas in your landscape. The new types of “faux turf” on the market have come a long way and can look incredibly realistic. You often can’t tell that they aren’t real until you get up close. They stand up well to foot traffic, pets, and lawn furniture and act as natural weed barriers. Because they are porous, rainfall or other irrigation water in your landscape will permeate these artificial turfs. Also, pets can relieve themselves on them (remember, they’re permeable). Simply hose off your artificial lawn to keep it clean. You don’t have to water, fertilize, or mow it, so there are big savings to be had.

Now, there are some downsides to using artificial turf. It is a synthetic product and, as such, might introduce less-than-desirable chemicals into your environment. Padding for the turf is often made of recycled rubber and tires, which can be toxic. You’ll need to consider how much you, your kids, and pets will be playing on the turf before you install it. Ask for non rubber padding options if you’re concerned. Another issue is temperature. While real grass has a cooling effect on the surrounding environment, artificial turf can actually get quite hot. While artificial lawns are permeable, they don’t have actual root systems; this means that they won’t be as effective at controlling drainage and runoff during extended or heavy rainfall. Also, be sure to check with your homeowners association to review any potential restrictions.

While artificial lawns aren’t appropriate for all situations, they can be a good option for tough spots where real grass doesn’t make the cut.