Synthetic Grass Versus Natural Grass – Which is Really Better?

Synthetic grass and natural grass 101

More Australians are choosing synthetic grass over natural lawns, but is synthetic any better than what nature provides, and how can you tell for sure? Here’s a brief guide to help you decide if artificial turf is the right choice.

Green lawns and the cost to the environment

A lush green lawn takes its toll on the environment. After you take the pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, and water into account, green lawns all over Sydney account for a massive drain on natural resources. During times of drought and water restrictions, a once green and vibrant lawn will quickly turn into a dry wasteland.

Artificial turf requires no watering, mowing, fertilizing, or chemical treatments. It looks good all year round and is unaffected by drought. There will be an occasional need to give the turf a quick squirt to get rid of dust, and large debris will need raking, so it’s not all fun and games.

Artificial lawns aren’t perfect when it comes to the environment. Plastic is used in its creation, which is a petroleum-based product. A great deal of the material is from recycled plastics, and a lot of the synthetic grass will be reused once it reaches its end of life. However, some of it will inevitably end up in our landfill.

Cost benefits – Synthetic grass versus natural lawn

Synthetic turf has a not insignificant upfront cost, but it’s created to last. Most synthetic lawns have a usable life of around 15 – 25 years, with next to no upkeep costs.

If you consider the cost of watering and maintenance on a natural lawn over the same span of years, it’s not long before an artificial lawn has paid for itself. Plus, you should add in the value of your time not spent weeding, mowing, and edge trimming.

Synthetic grass drawbacks

While there is plenty to love about synthetic grass, it’s not for everyone. On a hot, sunny day, artificial grass can become uncomfortably warm. Natural grass does as well, but the evaporative effects of transpiration provide a cooling effect.

Pet owners will need to weigh up the pros and cons of synthetic grass carefully. It has excellent drainage, but solid matter is a different story and will require some cleaning. There’s no doubt that synthetic grass has many benefits over natural grass. As with anything, weighing up the benefits versus the disadvantages according to your situation will lead you to the best solution.

Useful links