Is Artificial Grass A Solution To Saving Water?

With recent droughts and cities enacting water-saving measures, many are seeking ways to lower their water use. Is Synthetic grass the solution for lowering your water use and lowering your water bill?

Since the average home uses more than 70% of their water for outdoor use, can installing artificial grass be the answer to lowering your impact on the environment? And, is it really eco-friendly?

If you have been thinking of having synthetic grass installed in your garden with that reassuring reason in mind, make sure you know all the facts before making a final decision.

On the Up Side

Some companies seem to have the environment in mind more than others. For example, ForeverLawn offers a line of grass blades made from recycled plastics, and with a backing layer made from soybean plants and recycled plastic bottles. That type of grass is marketed as being 100% recyclable, and is more expensive than other conventional grasses. SYNLawn also makes use of soybeans to manufacture its backing.

On the Down Side

Whether fake grass is made of recycled or virgin materials, its manufacturing is a very energy intensive process, during which greenhouse gases are emitted.  Natural grass is often accused of necessitating high quantities of fertilizing and gas-mowing, two activities that produce greenhouse gas emissions, but according to a research conducted by Berkeley’s  Laboratory For Manufacturing And Sustainability, artificial turf releases more greenhouse gases in its production, transportation and processing than the maintenance of natural turf.

Widespread use of artificial lawn could contribute to global warming too, as synthetic grass temperatures can be as high as 30 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit above the air temperature. Off-gassing is also thought of occurring during the artificial grass lifecycle, which is currently about 10 years.

Before looking into synthetic grass, seriously consider other, eco-friendlier and natural options:

– Organically maintained lawns mowed with push reel mowers and fertilized with compost, to reduce CO2 emissions

– Low-water eco-lawns

– Other drought-tolerant ground covers such as clover or rock garden

If you need to cover only a small area in your garden and the above options are not possible, then artificial grass might be the solution for you. But let’s not lure ourselves into believing that it is eco-friendly:  it won’t fool butterflies and other insects and birds that enhance our garden experience.

Let us know what you think. We would like to hear your comments pro and con on artificial surfaces.