Utah and the other western states know all about the benefits of artificial grass, which is increasingly being used to replace real grass in homes, schools, sports fields, etc. across the country.
From huge college football fields and NFL stadiums to small-scale backyard landscaping—and everything in between—synthetic turf’s popularity is growing as it’s rolled out in more installations in Utah and beyond.
The Synthetic Turf Council states that artificial grass offers “a greener alternative, providing increased access, environmental benefits, and cost savings for communities.” This highlights some of the main benefits of artificial grass—but there are plenty of others to add…
13 Benefits of Artficial Grass
The main benefits of artificial grass for home and business owners are its low maintenance requirements, natural grass aesthetic, long-term cost savings, and flexibility for many different applications.
These benefits may vary between large businesses with vast landscaped lawns to tend, sports fields that need a durable playing surface, and homeowners looking for a backyard play area for the kids without having to lift a finger.
Here’s a deeper dive into the many benefits of synthetic turf…
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If you’re in Salt Lake City or the surrounding areas, the experienced team at Rocky Mountain Turf will break down the costs for you in a free estimate. Contact us here.
1. Evergreen Aesthetic
Many residential and commercial property owners in Utah simply want a lawn area that stays green all year round without the hours of work that go into lawn maintenance.
The best synthetic grass—installed properly by professionals—is UV-protected and remains green through the seasons for many years.
Its lush appearance is maintained during drought conditions or storms, sun or snow—and you don’t have to worry about discoloration from dry weather, bald patches or other seasonal variations that cause problems for natural grass.
2. Realistic appearance
If you want a realistic grass appearance without the grass “work”, artificial grass has come a long way.
The Astroturf you may know from the 1980s or 1990s has been replaced with far superior varieties of turf—so much so that the days of artificial grass being a poor second best to real grass when it comes to appearance are gone.
The best artificial grass now closely resembles the real thing and the huge advances make it very tough to tell the difference between the two…it even increasingly feels like the real thing.
3. Ultra-Low Maintenance
Real grass needs regular mowing, watering, fertilizing, aerating, weedkilling, and more. That’s a lot of work and/or money.
The average American lawn takes 70 hours of work per year to maintain, according to the American Time Use Survey.
With artificial grass, that’s reduced to practically zero, depending on how you use the area. All you’ll need to do is remove debris—particularly after storms—and perform an occasional cross-brush or hose down. It remains at the ideal height all year and needs no water, fertilizer or herbicides.
The lack of artificial grass maintenance frees up time for more important things and makes synthetic turf ideal for busy families or professionals in Utah.
4. Cost-Effectiveness Over Time
The cost of artificial grass in Utah stacks up very well against the cost of real grass. The upfront cost of synthetic grass is higher than grass seed or sod but the initial investment is usually paid back within five years from the minimal ongoing costs associated with it.
Considering that artificial grass can last 15-20 years, that’s many years of lower costs and, ultimately, profit over maintaining a real grass lawn. The long-term savings free up cash for more exciting things than paying for lawn care services, water, fertilizers, and lawnmowers.
5. Water Conservation
Utah’s water problem is no secret. We’re one of the driest states in the country and are prone to drought. During 2022, over 99 percent of Utah experienced severe drought or worse.
Lawn watering by businesses, residents, and government institutions in Utah’s cities accounts for 6 to 8 percent of the state’s total water use.
By switching to artificial grass, you help reduce that figure. Artificial grass will still look green and immaculate with no water, significantly reducing outdoor water usage and wastage in your home.
Beyond Salt Lake City, homes in the driest areas of the state like North Logan, St. George, Oakley, and Ogden might particularly benefit from the sustainable, water-saving qualities of artificial grass.
6. Durable and Long-Lasting
There are good reasons why the Rice-Eccles Stadium installed artificial field turf in 2002 and the Utes have been playing their home games on it ever since.
Not only does it save maintenance, water, and money but it’s durable, tough, and long-lasting. Many NFL and college football teams around the country have switched to enjoy these artificial grass benefits.
The best synthetic turf can withstand all types of weather as well as the rough and tumble of football, soccer, volleyball, and many other sports. The kids and pets that play in backyards are no problem either, with many Utah homeowners using artificial pet turf for dog runs, for instance.
Most high-quality artificial turf comes with generous warranties and should last 15 years or more with some basic care.
7. Drought, Shade, and Pest Tolerant
Real grass lawns in Utah face the ever-present threat of drought, irregular temperature changes, pests, and lack of growth from excessive shade (lack of sunshine).
These threats make choosing the best grass for Utah challenging but the problems all vanish if you switch to artificial turf.
As a grass alternative, synthetic turf looks immaculate regardless of sun/shade exposure, unseasonal temperatures, and precipitation levels—and requires no pesticides or herbicides to keep the gremlins away.
8. Safe and Allergy-Free for All the Family (Including Pooch)
Some people suffer from grass allergies due to grass pollen, leading to a variety of annoying symptoms from itchy eyes to headaches and asthma.
Artificial grass is an excellent choice for families with grass allergy sufferers because it has hypoallergenic properties. Also, because there are no pest or weed problems with synthetic grass, no chemicals are required—removing other potential triggers for allergies.
Whether you’ve got young children, sensitive pets or allergy sufferers in the household, artificial grass is safe and friendly for all the family.
9. Versatility
Artificial grass was once simply known as AstroTurf and designed for use on sports fields. It has retained its popularity for sports fields but, with technical advances in the varieties and quality of artificial grass available, its uses have diversified.
In Utah, you’ll find artificial grass in front and back yards but not just as lawn turf—also between pavers around swimming pools, as the flooring in kids’ playgrounds, on putting greens, in pet runs, around patios and decks, on rooftops, and even creatively in wall designs or as decorative backdrops inside the home.
The versatility of artificial grass makes custom applications easy. Just be sure to work with turf professionals to bring your custom design to life.
10. Environmentally Friendly
With the technical advances of artificial grass has also come greater environmental friendliness.
Some people still mistakenly point towards the presence of “forever plastics” in artificial grass. These are polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs) that are nearly indestructible and can be found in many consumer products, such as non-stick frying pans, waterproof clothing, etc.
Older versions of artificial grass did contain these from the manufacturing process but in the U.S., steps have been taken by the artificial turf industry to eradicate this practice. None of the best brands of artificial turf now contain PFAs though traces may still be found in crumb rubber infill used on sports fields. Read more about the manufacturing process of artificial grass.
There are some positives for the environment with artificial grass too: no lawnmower fuel is necessary (saving carbon emissions), no water, no harmful lawn care products like pesticides and fertilizers, and the increasing use of recyclable materials in both the turf and the infill. There is a growing push within the industry towards more sustainability with synthetic grass.
The question of whether artificial grass is better or worse for the environment than real grass is a multi-faceted one—and should go deeper than simply focusing on recycling challenges with artificial grass (which is true but this is being addressed by the industry).
11. May Increase Curb Appeal and Property Value
Some home and business owners benefit from the enhanced curb appeal provided by artificial grass, which may increase the value of your home if you’re trying to sell or rent it.
Potential buyers and renters are often attracted by the low-maintenance aspects of synthetic grass, as well as the fact that it stays green all year round. Others view it as a modern way to use outdoor space, which is also important to some buyers and renters.
12. No Drainage Issues
There’s no need to worry that an artificial grass installation will hinder drainage, even if you have pets.
The best artificial grass provides excellent drainage when properly installed by professionals. That involves a lot more than simply rolling out a carpet on flat ground.
Artificial grass should have sufficient perforations in the backing to allow water to pass through and should be installed only after the ground underneath has been properly prepared. Then your turfed area will withstand the heaviest rain that Utah can throw at it— 30+ inches of rain per hour per square yard—and still be usable afterward.
If you have dogs, a few extra precautions with pet turf will prevent dog pee odors from overpowering your backyard—notably, using antimicrobial infill and installing no membrane under the grass.
You can also use synthetic turf confidently around backyard swimming pool designs as it will withstand wet feet without becoming too slippery—and the chlorine won’t damage it.
13. No Mud, Grass Clippings or Grass Stains
If you’ve got kids using the pool or playing backyard sports, you don’t need to worry about mud or grass clippings being trailed back through the home or into the pool—and grass stains on clothing are a thing of the past too.
This saves the cleaning bills and makes Mum a lot happier!
FAQs
Are There Any Downsides to Artificial Grass?
Synthetic grass gets hotter than real grass and there are some challenges with recycling it. Some homeowners who don’t mind the maintenance involved just prefer something growing in the yard and choose real grass.
How Long Does Artificial Grass Last?
The lifespan of synthetic grass depends on the quality of the turf, how it’s installed, how well you care for it (debris removal, etc.), and the foot traffic it’s exposed to. Generally speaking, with good care, your artificial grass should last at least 15 years—and maybe more than 20.
How Do You Clean Artificial Turf?
Cleaning artificial turf is generally very easy. If rinsing with water doesn’t work, try these artificial grass cleaning methods.
Considering Switching To Artificial Grass?
The many benefits of artificial grass range from aesthetic considerations to environmental and financial benefits and, perhaps the most attractive of all for many homeowners, barely having to lift a finger to maintain it.
If you’re considering turf landscaping ideas for your Utah home, discuss your options with an artificial grass professional.
