With our draconian water restrictions in place, many people are swapping out their front lawns for artificial grass. Hailed as a sustainable alternative to the traditional lawn, is it really?
It’s true that you’ll reduce your water use, eliminate the need for fertilizers and pesticides, and no need for power tools to keep it looking good. However, it’s not maintenance-free. You’ll still need to rake leaves and debris from the lawn to keep it looking neat, and you must also brush the blades themselves. More importantly:
- It’s expensive to install. Costs include grass removal, ground preparation, and materials.
- It may become hotter than the air and can make the surrounding air feel hotter.
- Materials used for the base under the artificial grass is made from recycled tires that can be contaminated with heavy metals and chemicals linked to increased risk of cancer.
- Both the grass-like blades and the backing of artificial turf contain highly toxic fluorinated chemicals known as PFAS, or “forever chemicals” as they accumulate in the body and do break not down.
- Sanitation is a concern – everything from blood to your dog’s poop contaminate the artificial grass. You’ll need to clean up any messes that could potentially be a health hazard.
If you’re ready to take out your lawn, and want to find some earth-friendly alternatives, join us on March 12, 2022, for a free hour-long program on “Re-thinking your Lawn: Earth-Friendly Alternatives.”