Choosing Between Natural and Synthetic Turf: How to Weigh Your Options

14 January 2020

Every homeowner wants a beautiful green lawn, but for some property owners, it can be tough deciding on the best method to achieve a lush landscape. They can either opt for natural and synthetic turf, unto which have their respective advantages and disadvantages. As a result, homeowners have found it difficult to weigh their options. Below are things to consider in choosing between natural and synthetic turf.

Characteristics

Natural turf originated from a large number of different species of grass, which vary by blade, growth, season, shade, and water requirements. Some of the most popular grass species for most lawns are bent, Bermuda, fine fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass, and tall fescue. The blades for each of these species varies from narrow, flat, sharp, pointed, hair like, and even round. Some of the species grow fast, low, or in bunches. And since the grass is natural, the amount of watering can range from once every week to twice a week.

On the other hand, synthetic turf is composed of fibres that are made to look like natural grass, and have a lifespan of up to 25 years. Some may think that synthetic turf looks fake, but now there are a variety of synthetic grass options available. Types of synthetic turf vary from the type of material, pile height, and colour. The three different materials that a synthetic turf is made of include polypropylene, polyethylene, and nylon. Synthetic grass also comes in different sizes, referred to as pile height, which is the height of the grass blades. While most people would assume that artificial grass is only available in the colour green, there are actually a large variety of colours available such as pink, blue, and much more.

Usage

Implementing a natural turf into your outdoor living space could be done by seeding the area or laying down sod. Sod is grass that is pre-grown by farmers and comes in rolls. Depending on the amount of effort you want to put into the lawn, sod may be the best option.

It is important to take note of the way the artificial turf will be used. Primary use may include pet yards, putting greens, or a home lawn. For a home lawn, synthetic turf with a medium height made of polyethylene is the most popular choice. The colours will have multiple shades of green and possibly some brown to imitate the look of a healthy natural lawn.

Benefits

Despite any concerns of water usage in regards to natural grass, natural grass lawns have their benefits. Since the grass is natural, the lawn is able to improve the quality of air through purification. This is done through the breaking down of air borne pollutants in the soil, which is captured by the grass blades. Other environmental benefits of natural lawns are the generation of oxygen, improvement of soil quality, reduction of runoff, and cooling of the surrounding area.

Unlike natural grass, artificial grass doesn’t need much maintenance. The few maintenance items can be rinsed down to remove dust, periodic grooming, and raking large debris. Alongside the little maintenance needed, the best part of artificial grass is that it doesn’t require watering. This is a huge plus in where water is scarce and the water rates are rising.

Choosing between natural and artificial turf can be a hassle. Good thing, EB Landscaping can definitely take care of that for you. We only use top quality materials, products and suppliers since we do not compromise on quality. Our aim is to operate ethically, professionally and efficiently to make good on our clients’ dream gardens.

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