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Landscaping is a daunting task, especially considering that any plants a homeowner adds to their yard must be cared for diligently into the future. It is important to create an outdoor space that looks beautiful and offers the functionality that homeowners need — but it is also important that homeowners not waste more time and resources than necessary maintaining their yards. Thus, many homeowners today are turning to a solution that seems to cover all their bases: artificial grass.
Should you install artificial grass in your outdoor area? Before you make a decision, you might consider the following pros and cons.
Pro: Artificial Grass Does Not Require Watering, Weeding or Mowing
Artificial grass gives the appearance of the lushest, most verdant lawn imaginable, and yet homeowners need not worry about any of the tasks to achieve it. Lawns are notoriously greedy landscape fixtures; they demand a significant amount of water, and during warmer months, lawns must be weeded and mowed at least every week. Artificial grass does not grow, so it has no need for watering or mowing, and it blocks sunlight from reaching the soil, which prevents weeds from sprouting. Thus, homeowners can install artificial grass and look onto a luxuriant lawn every day without wasting a second on maintenance.
Of course, the maintenance of lawns is made much easier with the proper tools. Lawn mowers are designed for specific types of grass, and using the right model will make lawn mowing a fast and painless process. Healthy lawns also tend to grow fewer weeds, as the blades of grass will crowd out any competing plants.
Pro: Artificial Grass Does Not Encourage Pests
Lawns are largely considered by ecologists to be biological deserts. Especially if homeowners strive to cultivate a single variety of grass, a lawn will slowly starve the soil of microbes and drive away other species of plants and animals. Unfortunately, some species have evolved to capitalize on the lack of competition in lawn environments — and these species tend to be the worst forms of pests. Horrible beetles, worms and flies can infest lawns, making the outdoors impossible for homeowners to enjoy. Fortunately, because artificial grass is inhospitable to these creatures, artificial lawns essentially eliminate the possibility of pest infestations.
Still, there are ways to maintain an organic lawn without worrying about pests. By allowing a mixed variety of grass seeds to grow — and by integrating other forms of ground cover, like clover — the lawn becomes a more hospitable ecosystem for a greater variety of plants and animals. Thus, when pests do emerge, there are more predators, like beneficial insects and birds, to thwart them.
Con: Artificial Grass Is Expensive to Install
It is no secret that fake grass is costly. What’s more, few homeowners can install artificial lawns themselves, so installation involves not only the cost of materials but the cost of labor, as well. Artificial lawn proponents like to say that the upfront cost is less than the cost of an organic lawn over time, but the truth is that artificial grass will need to be replaced, usually within the decade, which means homeowners will pay more installation fees as well as costs to dispose of their old artificial lawn.
Con: Artificial Grass Can Increase the Heat Island Effect
Organic grass does require quite a bit of water to grow, but that water soaks into the soil and helps keep the surrounding outdoor space cool. In hot regions and during the summer months, that cooling effect can make it much more enjoyable to spend time outside. In contrast, artificial grass heats up when exposed to warmth and sunlight, which can exacerbate the heat island effect. In fact, during the summer, artificial lawns might become inaccessible as the plastic grass becomes so hot that it causes burns.
Con: Artificial Grass Tends to Look Fake
In the 2020s, artificial grass looks more realistic than ever — but up close, everyone can almost always tell the difference between a real lawn and a fake one. More passable artificial grass tends to be more expensive, but even with a higher grass budget, homeowners should expect that guests will know that they have a plastic lawn.
Con: Artificial Grass Off-gasses
Artificial grass is made from materials that contain volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) and other harmful chemicals. When a lawn is new, those chemicals can rub off on anyone who comes into contact with the grass or else emit into the air and be inhaled by homeowners and their guests. High exposure to these chemicals can cause a variety of health problems, and those with sensitive health conditions may struggle more to maintain their health and wellness with artificial lawns.
Con: Artificial Grass Can Trap Bacteria
Often, homeowners want to maintain a lawn in their yard as a place for their pets to comfortably do their business. On both organic and artificial lawns, homeowners need to pick up pet waste regularly to keep the area clean and prevent damage. However, while the watering of organic lawns help to wash away any harmful bacteria deposited on lawns by pests, artificial grass can harbor that bacteria and even proliferate it, making the lawn a dangerous place for people and pets alike.
For most people, there are far more disadvantages to artificial grass than advantages. However, you can determine whether a living lawn or a fake one is right for you.
