Artificial Grass as an Eco Friendly Lawn Alternative

dog and kid play on artificial turf

An eco-conscious alternative to lawn care

Is artificial grass the right answer for your home? Green grass may feel classically all-American, but is it really the best choice for modern day yards?

Is artificial grass, or Astroturf, a viable alternative? Beyond the beautiful, manicured, year-round appeal it has on the surface, we wanted the details.

What’s the annual water usage savings? Is it more environmentally friendly than grass? What is the upkeep and how much is the investment?

To find out, we went to friend of Nest Jim Puopolo, owner of XX South LLC, a Charlottesville, Virginia, company that installs residential turf and game courts.

“This year I’ve taken on a couple large commercial jobs, but I prefer smaller residential jobs,” Puopolo shared with us from a job site in South Carolina where he was installing an 8,000 square foot section of turf at a student housing complex.

So who is the ideal candidate for artificial grass? “Homeowners who are tired of natural grass and the upkeep and maintenance required,” Puopolo says. “People who struggle to grow nice grass in areas that are too wet, too shady, etc.”

To get started, there are the costs of preparing the site, removing existing grass, and other organic vegetation, says Puopolo. For example, are there sprinkler heads or an irrigation system to remove?

“The big one is drainage,” he says. “If there is a wet area of your yard that doesn’t drain well, we would create the proper drainage, and then install the turf.”

INVESTMENT

According to Home Depot, the average artificial grass installation project starts at around $5,000, and online calculators will vary by the type of product being installed — and by location.

Puopolo says his jobs on average cost about $10 per square foot, and of course that varies by size and scope.

WATER SAVINGS AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

When it comes to water savings, as well as cost savings over time, Puopolo says it depends on how much time and money you spend on your yard now. According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), as much as one-third of all residential water consumption goes toward watering lawns. So never having to water your lawn again adds up to substantial savings and water conservation.

“The cost of cutting grass, fertilizer, and water usage all add up to hard costs, but customers are also more aware than ever of the environmental impacts of those same factors: environmental costs of water usage, small engine pollution, and fertilizer production and runoff, which are all horrible for the environment,” he says.

Particularly appealing to some may be the fact that artificial turf is completely maintenance free—except for leaf management when needed, said Puopolo. “No lawnmowers, no irrigation maintenance.”

“Pet facilities use synthetic turf all the time. I have a repeat customer who told me ‘Once your dog poops on artificial turf, you’ll never have real grass again!’ I installed a 1,200 square foot dog area at his vacation home on the Eastern Shore. A few months later we were back at his daughter’s house replacing her entire yard with turf,” shares Puoplo.

He recently stopped by to take a look at this client’s primary residence where he had installed artificial turf nearly 20 years ago, and was impressed that it still looked fantastic. One of the major selling points for pet owners is the infill product, he explained. “It neutralizes odors and drains liquids instantly. Solid waste still has to get picked up, but there’s no more digging, muddy paws, etc, and the yard looks great all year long.” The only downfall is that it can get hot for little feet when cooking in full sun during the summer months, but can quickly be cooled off with the hose.

LIMITATIONS

If it seems too good to be true, it probably is, right? “Really steep grades can be problematic, but since steep areas would generally have very little traffic, we would make something work, usually just not using an infill, which would tend to wash out anyway,” Puopolo says.

Do people create entire yards with turf, or is it mostly done on porches and patios and smaller spaces?

According to Puopolo, it’s both. “We see people with big yards they are sick of taking care of, but also people who have a couple tiny grass areas that they just don’t want the hassle of dealing with any longer. I’ve had installations that were anywhere from a couple hundred square feet to thousands of square feet.”

Is artificial turf something you’ve considered for your outdoor spaces? We love the clean, tidy look, the ease of picking up after pets, and the water savings. If you have a small space around your home that is crying out for a makeover, be sure to take before and after pics so we can see what you’ve accomplished!

This article was featured in our Spring/Summer 2022 edition of Nest magazine. Follow along here and follow us on Instagram for more expert tips, tricks, and advice for home owners and investors at all levels.

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Posted in Asheville, Charlottesville, Fredericksburg, Greater Louisville, Greensboro, Greenville, Jackson, Lake Norman, Morganton, NEST Magazine, New River Valley, Raleigh-Durham, Richmond, Roanoke, Shenandoah Valley, Spring/Summer 2022, Wilmington
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