Natural Grass vs. Artificial Turf

Dori Wittrig June 18, 2021

Part of living in the Sonoran Desert is designing your landscape to withstand harsh summer temperatures and frequent drought conditions. Most people opt for xeriscape that includes yards made of rock and low-maintenance, drought-tolerant plants.

Yet many families want a section of yard where their children and pets can play. The question becomes, should you use natural grass or artificial turf?

There are advantages and disadvantages to both.

Natural Grass Advantages

Well, it’s natural after all.
It’s cooler, especially in the summer.
It’s softer to the touch.
It’s cheaper to install than turf.

Natural Grass Disadvantages

Requires high water usage.
Involves more maintenance: mowing, edging, and over-seeding for winter grass.
Requires chemical fertilizers and weed control to keep it looking great.

Artificual Turf Advantages

Low to no water usage.
Low maintenance, only needing occasional raking and hosing off to remove dust and pet waste.
No need for chemical fertilizers and weed killers.
Stays clean year-round.
Works great in areas where it’s difficult to grow grass.
Pet-friendly.
Better for people with grass-allergies.

Artificial Turn Disadvantages

Purchase and installation are expensive.
Not natural, especially in the way it feels.
Extremely hot in direct sunlight, like concrete and asphalt. It can get up to 180 degrees in the summer sun compared to 90 degrees for real grass.
May add to the “heat island” effect that roads and buildings have on climate.

In general, on all price ranges, our Buyers appreciate a good quality artificial turf. It doesn’t require water or lawn care and it works great for pets, plus it always looks well-kept and beautiful.