Education

What Is Artificial Grass?

Artificial grass is material that is made of synthetic, man-made fibers that look like real grass.

The synthetic grass blades are green and come in different pile heights. It is constructed in the same way that carpet is made; it has a solid backing and then the blades are machine stitched on. Most new artificial grass that is being produced today also weaves in a brown thatch that mimics the look of dead grass that you would see on a real grass lawn. With the new technology that is available today, artificial grass has made leaps and bounds on its realistic looking appearance.

Artificial grass was first used in 1966 when it was installed in the Houston Astrodome, the world’s first domed indoor multipurpose sports stadium. During the stadium’s inaugural season in 1965, they failed miserably at growing real grass. By the second half of the season, the field conditions were so bad that they installed artificial grass.

Artificial grass is commonly used for sport applications. In certain parts of the country, it is more common to have artificial grass installed rather than real grass on a high school football field. Its usage is spreading to other types of sports applications such as batting cages, soccer complexes, and baseball fields. However, it is now being used for residential and commercial landscaping as well.

Why Consider Artificial Grass?

Artificial grass offers many benefits for the consumer. It saves both money and time and is an excellent landscaping option. Natural grass requires 55 gallons of water per square feet annually, however, artificial grass doesn’t require any water, significantly reducing monthly water bills.
The majority of residential water use is from landscaping. In certain parts of the country, drought conditions are present and water conservation is a necessity. Many people feel that it is more important to save the water to grow food rather than use it for landscaping beautification purposes. Artificial grass is something that can give people the landscape look of green grass without the maintenance.

Real grass can die. Artificial grass can last twenty or more years creating a “forever lawn”. The good thing about it is that once it is installed, it is always green. Lawns can never be overgrown or develop brown spots.

Landscapers are no longer required. Because artificial grass doesn’t grow, you no longer have to hire a landscaper to maintain your lawn. Fertilizers, weed control products, pest control products, and lawn care equipment become a thing of the past. Artificial grass saves time because it does not need to be maintained like a real grass lawn. Therefore, if you maintain your own lawn, you will no longer need to mow it on a weekly basis. In addition, the elimination of lawnmowers is an environmental benefit because it reduces the emissions that are released in our atmosphere. One lawnmower emits as much emissions as 11 cars running for 1 hour.

What Makes A Good Quality Artificial Grass?

As a consumer, when comparing artificial greenery and grass products there are some key factors that are very important. It is in your best interest to purchase a “good quality” grass because this will determine how long it will last and how long it will look good. A good quality product starts with the backing material, you want to choose a product that has polyurethane backing and not a latex. In addition, you want the product to have a UV-resistant protectant coating. This of particular importance because this will protect the artificial grass from the sun and keep it looking green. Products that are not treated with a UV protectant can fade turning the grass blue or white. Also, check and see if the artificial grass is lead-free.