Turf vs. Grass

Synthetic turf has become very popular in recent years. According to The Guardian, it has expanded to over $2 billion per year in sales as of 2019. Artificial turf consists of plastic-based synthetic blades that look identical to natural grass. It’s also known as artificial grass or synthetic grass. Although natural grass still has a lot going for it, turf provides a lot of unique pros as well. Before you decide whether real grass or turf is better, let’s examine each option more closely. Turf and real grass look similar, but they’re distinct from one another in many ways.

Irrigation

Turf: Does not require irrigation.
Real grass: Needs regular watering. During hot Arizona summers, you may need to water in the morning as well as in the evening. Watering your grass lawn can take anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour depending on weather conditions and the size of your lawn. Due to the mineral content in the water supply, regular maintenance of sprinkler systems is necessary.

Mowing

Turf: Doesn’t need to be mowed.
Real grass: Needs regular mowing. This will require a lawnmower and take time and energy if mowing yourself. If you hire landscapers, this will increase your monthly bills, particularly if you have a large lawn.

Safety

Turf: Doesn’t have soil, so no need to worry about your children or pets getting dirty. Doesn’t need any chemicals to maintain, making it safe for you, your children, and your pets to play on. Can heat up during hot days, making it less fun for kids and pets to play on. Doesn’t attract pests like ticks.
Real grass: Needs chemicals like pesticides, weed killers, and artificial fertilizers to maintain quality and growth. Welcome to the world of insects! Biting ants, ticks, and other creepy crawlies.

Maintenance


Turf:

• Need to regularly use a blower to get rid of debris like leaves.
• Need to regularly rinse with water and spray cleaner if you have pets.
• Pet turf comes with antimicrobial Microban™ infill that’s made to prevent bacteria and odors.
• No aerating, seeding, fertilizing, or weed control needed.
• No need for a sprinkler system.

Real grass:

• Needs regular maintenance.
• You also need to aerate, seed, fertilize, and apply weed control.
• Can be expensive to maintain in dry states like Arizona.
• May need a sprinkler system to maintain, particularly if it covers a large area.

Life Span

Turf: Around 10 to 15 years under Arizona’s bright sun, if properly cared for. The life span will also depend on the quality of the material, but once the turf wears out, you won’t be able to restore it. An artificial lawn will be a discolored, unusable piece of plastic once it’s done for, and you’ll have to remove and replace it.
Real grass: Can last as long as you want it to, since you can always re-seed a real lawn.

Aesthetics

Turf:

• Looks just like real grass.
• Is green all year-round, regardless of season or climate.
• No need to worry about burnt or dying grass.

Real grass:

• Natural and has a great smell.
• Must pick the right kind of natural grass for Arizona’s climate (unlike artificial turf), which can be challenging and costly.

Environmental Impact

Turf:

• Doesn’t require mowing, so you don’t need to worry about gas leaks or polluting the environment with your lawn mower.
• Some types are made from recycled car tires and other materials that aren’t biodegradable.
• Other types are made from recyclable materials, although the backing or tuft bind is generally not recyclable. However, recyclers can melt it down to craft new products.
• Unlike real grass, turf doesn’t require water at all. This saves a lot of water and greatly benefits the environment.

Real grass:

• Regular mowing can cause a lot of damage to the environment. According to a study from Sweden, one hour of lawn mowing creates as much pollution as a 100-mile automobile ride. Your carbon footprint will increase the more you use your lawn mower.
• People also use weed killer and fertilizer on real grass. This can be dangerous for the environment since these contaminants can spread to nearby streams, ponds, and other bodies of water, resulting in pollution.

Cost

Turf: Up-front costs are higher, but you’ll spend less money over the years since maintenance is simpler and less costly.
Real grass: Up-front costs are lower, but you’ll spend more over the years on maintenance, particularly on irrigation systems, mowing, and fertilizing.