At first glance, and after several bouts of trying to establish an attractive, healthy lawn with little success, you might be considering installing artificial turf instead. This is not a good idea, for several reasons we’ll outline below.
Wire cutter researchers Harry Sawyers and Gregory Han realized throughout the course of their research for this article that “synthetic turf can be a bad value over the long term, there are serious environmental problems to consider, and the costs to install and maintain any sizable, well-done installation proved high.” After reviewing the list of cons here, we think that you’ll come similar conclusions.
Most Artificial Turf is Fake Looking
Considering that aesthetics is often the primary reason homeowners install artificial turf in the first place, many are disheartened to discover that even properly installed synthetic grass can quickly reveal itself as an eyesore.
At first the artificial grass may appear little different than natural turfgrass, especially more premium brands that incorporate details that mimic the color and shape of real grass blades. Unfortunately, though, this façade will quickly fade over time.
“Astro turf never looks like anything but astro turf,” writes Jack Wallington of Garden Design, “It’s the imperceptible things like blowing in the wind, the way it looks in rain, the smell, small imperfect patches or insects and birds – these little things all add up in our mind to point out this thing isn’t real due to their absence.”
Most blatantly obvious is that the weave of the artificial turf won’t match the rest of your lawn, particularly as the real grass grows. This, paired with the potential for rippling and its inability to hold up to use by pets or kids can result in some unsightly landscaping.
Artificial Turf is Not Environmentally Friendly
Artificial turf is made of durable, synthetic materials that are designed to take hundreds of years to break down, making them difficult to impossible to recycle. Considering that it will need to be replaced every 7 to 10 years, that means all the old synthetic turf turns into ton of infill. The rubber beads in the turf (made of zinc from tires) enters the water streams where it threatens fish and their aquatic ecosystem.
As outlined in Safer Fields for All, artificial turf contains an “undisclosed mixes of endocrine disruptors, known and probable human carcinogens, lead, PFAS, flame retardants, VOCs, SVOCs, and phthalates.” Research also indicates that it releases harmful microplastics as it breaks down. All of these attributes put together spells danger for our environment.
Artificial Turf Can Cause Injuries
Peer-reviewed studies back up the assertion that injury frequency and severity is exacerbated by artificial turf grass. Orthopedic journals have published that there have been double the foot and ankle injuries compared to grass. This is along with a significant increase in non-contact injuries such as concussion, knee injuries, and abrasions from turf burn. Often these abrasions are not visible at first but can lead to serious infections if not treated quickly. Beyond all this there are even indication of links between the chemical compounds inherent in the synthetic turf and cancer in some athletes.
Artificial Turf is Hotter than Real Grass
Real grass averages 78 degrees, which is a stark comparison to the 117 degrees synthetic turf averages. Due to its low water content, synthetic turn can become so hot it is dangerously lethal. The negatives effects of outdoor activities or sports on this hot grass include the potential for heat stroke, muscle cramping, fatigue, and even death. To combat these side effects the synthetic grass must be cooled with regular watering, which makes it more slippery than natural grass and likely to cause injury if walked or ran on.
When you add up all these cons, the decision to opt for real turfgrass over artificial, synthetic grass seems to be an obvious one. For environmental, safety, and aesthetic reasons, natural, real grass is the better option.
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