Lawn Saver – Artificial vs Natural Turf

Every backyard needs a lush expanse of green lawn, or so we’re told. However, with brutal climates and droughts keeping a lawn alive, let alone thick and green, can be more of a struggle than it’s worth.

This is why so many people these days are turning instead to artificial turf, which never requires watering, mowing, or fertilizing and stays the same color all year round no matter what the weather throws at it. On the surface, it seems like the perfect solution: all the benefits of turf with none of the drawbacks. Unfortunately, things are never that simple, are they?

Artificial turf is not without its drawbacks. In this article, we take a look at the different costs of natural and artificial grass, and how they stack up against each other. Which is better value in the long run?

Installation

Let’s not beat around the bush: artificial grass is more expensive to initially install than natural grass, whether we’re talking about seed or professionally laid turf. The absolute cheapest way to install a lawn is by seeding bare ground, but even if you choose the more expensive option of laying pre-grown turf, the cost will still be lower than installing an artificial lawn.

This is because of the extra preparation that artificial lawns require, as well as the manufacturing costs of the turf itself. Artificial lawns require extensive preparation of the ground they’re going on. First, the old lawn must be torn up, then the ground must be compacted.

When this is complete, a sand layer must be placed above and precisely leveled. A layer of rubber pellets is then laid on the sand before the turf itself is laid on top of everything. Much care must also be taken when laying the turf to ensure the grain of the stalks remains even and looks natural.

Maintenance

This is where artificial turf comes into its own. The age-old hassles of having a lawn: mowing, watering, fertilizing, and weeding, are all completely nonexistent with an artificial lawn. During an extended dry period, there’s no need to worry about whether you should run the hose over the lawn to keep it green: artificial turf will remain the same vibrant color no matter the weather.

While the initial upfront costs of an artificial lawn will undoubtedly be higher than a natural equivalent, it’s in these yearly maintenance costs that the price is recouped. If you’re the type of person who simply can’t be bothered with yard maintenance and would likely hire an outside contractor to look after a natural lawn, then the savings will be quite dramatic.

Even if you are willing to mow and weed your lawn, artificial turf will still save you money in petrol, insecticides, and, most importantly, your own valuable time. Very few people enjoy spending a sweltering summer Saturday out in the yard, pushing around a mower.

Replacement

Depending on a variety of factors, a natural lawn can last indefinitely: it might not look consistently good at all times and entire patches might even die off, but with the proper maintenance there really shouldn’t be a need to ever completely redo your natural lawn.

While artificial turf has come a long way, it can’t be relied upon to exist permanently. Fifteen to twenty years is the expected lifespan of an artificial lawn. That’s certainly not a bad span of years, but eventually, it will have to be torn up and replaced with a fresh product.

Exactly how long you get out of your artificial lawn will depend on the type of artificial grass used and how much traffic it has to withstand.

So What?

Ultimately, the total cost of natural and artificial lawns is something of a toss-up, there are too many variables to give a concrete answer and everyone’s experience will be a little different. However, the average person is not going to notice a huge difference in total cost over the course of their lawn’s lifespan.

The initial cost of artificial turf will be gradually recouped thanks to its far lower maintenance costs, but the initial installation will eventually have to be repeated.

The biggest saver of an artificial lawn is not in cash, it’s in time: less maintenance means less time spent in the yard trying to keep your grass looking good. An artificial lawn is a set and forget product, something you can rely upon to look great for years without breaking your back or your bank to maintain.

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