Railroad tie retaining wall costs can vary widely, so getting an accurate estimate for your needs is a good idea to set your budget appropriately.
Kindra F.
Ruben did a great job painting my house trim. I would use him again.
Pros and Cons of Artificial Grass for Your Lawn
Which grass is always greener—real or synthetic?
Photo: Liyao Xie / Moment / Getty Images
Photo: Liyao Xie / Moment / Getty Images
Highlights
Synthetic grass is more expensive to install, but more economical over the long haul.
Artificial turf requires no watering or weeding.
Synthetic grass always looks healthy and is usable virtually all the time.
Synthetic lawns can trap bacteria.
Artificial grass can get very hot in the summer.
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You’re trying to decide whether to outfit your yard with synthetic or real grass. To help you make the call, read on for the pros and cons of artificial grass. Then, get ready to install and savor your new turf.
| Pros of Artificial Grass | Cons of Artificial Grass |
|---|---|
| Little to no maintenance | Can be vulnerable to damage |
| Ideal in shady or sloped areas | Can trap bacteria |
| Always looks green and healthy | Hot in the summer |
| Cost-effective in the long run | Expensive to install |
| Lasts for around 20 – 25 years | Can cause health issues |
| Various styles to pick from | Isn’t eco-friendly |
Artificial Grass Advantages
Synthetic grass offers many advantages. Keep reading to learn more about artificial grass pros and cons.
1. Almost No Maintenance
Live grass requires regular watering and weeding (and sometimes fertilizing), which will rack up your water bills and charges from your local gardener. In contrast, artificial turf doesn’t need any of this TLC. That’s why it’s ideal in low-water landscape designs and areas where drought is an issue.
Plus, with synthetic turf, you won’t need to deal with burrowers digging up parts of your lawn. As an added perk, since fake grass doesn’t stain clothing, there’ll be no need to spend as much time in the laundry room.
2. Ideal in Certain Spots
If grass doesn’t see the light of day regularly, it will die. That’s why artificial grass is perfect under trampolines. It’s also a smart choice in steeply graded sections of your yard, since they’re difficult to access, mow, and weed. Ask your local artificial grass company to install synthetic grass in those areas.
3. Always Looks Healthy
Sometimes, real grass develops brown and patchy spots. In contrast, artificial turf always appears bright green, with no empty spots. Plus, the height is perpetually ideal since fake grass never grows too long and looks unkempt.
4. More Economical Over Time
The initial cost of artificial turf averages about $4,700 for materials and installation. Yet artificial turf will require a smaller cash outlay over the long haul. No watering, weeding, or fertilizing means almost no maintenance costs.
5. Constantly Usable
When seeded grass yards are wet, they’re muddy and easily damaged. On the other hand, synthetic turf dries quickly after rain, meaning it can serve as a play surface almost all the time. Similarly, since you won’t need to spray your artificial grass with fertilizers or deal with side effects from pesticides, it won’t be off-limits at times.
6. Durable
High-quality artificial grass can last 20 to 25 years. If any areas become damaged over time, you can always refill those patches.
7. Offers Variety
Photo: John Keeble / Moment / Getty Images
There are plenty of different artificial grass types to choose from, including different colors, textures, and blade lengths to customize your lawn.
Disadvantages of Artificial Grass
Photo: graphixchon / Adobe Stock
Unfortunately, the many pros come with some cons. We list some of the most common problems with artificial grass and disadvantages below.
1. Expensive to Install
With synthetic grass, you do need to make that upfront investment.
2. Hot in the Summer
Since synthetic grass absorbs heat, it can become very hot and uncomfortable to walk on during the warmer months. If you have artificial grass around your pool, you’ll want to hose it down before walking on it and plant trees to keep it shaded.
3. Can Cause Health Issues
Artificial turf is a petroleum-based product. This means it can off-gas and potentially lead to health issues like asthma and delayed development in children.
4. Not Very Eco-Friendly
Some manufacturers produce artificial turf with recycled materials (like old tires or plastic bottles). Still, water runoff from synthetic grass can sometimes carry chemicals to water sources. Plus, artificial lawn is not biodegradable and will end up in a landfill.
5. Can Trap Bacteria
Unfortunately, artificial grass can trap blood, skin, and animal waste and become a breeding ground for harmful bacteria, like staphylococcus. If you have pets, you will need to clean dog urine from artificial grass on a regular basis to keep things more sanitary.
6. Still Vulnerable to Damage
If you install artificial grass in a high-traffic area with a lot of direct desert sunlight, it will deteriorate more quickly.
Is Artificial Grass Worth It?
Whether this grass alternative is worth the investment is up to your individual preferences and needs. If you have limited time or desire to spend on lawn care like watering, fertilizing, reseeding, mowing, and more, artificial grass could be the perfect solution for you.
It’s also great for smaller patches of lawn where you want beautiful year-round green grass without the effort. However, faux grass gets hot and will cost more to install upfront. Weigh the pros and cons of artificial grass before deciding what’s right for you, your family, and furry friends.
Frequently Asked Questions
Landscaping services reviews from real Angi homeowners in Council Bluffs, IA
4.4★ avg. • 35 total reviews
- Ledonna O.
Reliable, efficient and pays close attention to detail. Will be hiring for landscaping also.
Timber and Bloom, LLC - Bruce B.
Very polite and punctual. Kept me informed of costs before he did the work. Charged me what he said he would and advised me on future needs. Very professional!
2 to the Roof Gutter Cleaning - John M.
Called other companies, but they did not answer my call. This company came out on Monday made an assessment and Thursday the work was done. Very professional, very honest, a job well done!! I highly recommend Kanesville Valley for all of tree cutting needs Price was extremely reasonable.
Kanesville Valley - John L.
The end results are amazing. The patio looks better than it did when it was built new 10 years ago! The crew was amazing and Alan and Liz (owners) were a total pleasure to work with. We would recommend Limitless Landscapes for any landscaping job, especially if there is a lot of hardscaping...
Limitless landscape - Cierra J.
Great customer service and quality service!
Terminix - Kelly C.
The receptionist answering the phone (2/17/21) was warm and friendly. The certified appliance technician, Kyle, was professional, fast, courteous, and efficient (and wore a mask, as well as shoe covers, so no Covid concerns or dirty carpet tracks). Thank you!
Nebraska Home Appliance - Jeffrey L.
The whole process went very well. Francisco's arrived when scheduled having phoned first, a day in advance, to notify us. These guys were really something to watch. They cut the trees by climbing them when necessary, using ropes, ladders and other equipment. Francisco's appeared to be very...
- Julie M.
During the landscaping work done in 2013, they did not tie the rock area in front of the house to the existing rock area as discussed. I called them multiple times during installation and left messages to remind them to do so, but never received a call back. The owner finally called me back...
- Sue P.
Removed weeds and volunteer trees from fence line. Removed weeds from landscaping. Cleaned gutters. Just general yard clean-up.
Blue J's Lawn and Landscape Service Inc.
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