We must agree on something, we all love our lawns. Grass areas are great for not only the environment but also provide functional and psychological benefits for you and your family.
Maintaining a beautiful lawn also comes with a big amount of work. Whether your routine ranges from mowing when you just can’t stand the backyard field, or you skillfully nurture each corner of your front and backyard, taking care of a lawn requires a big effort.
Turf diseases, drought conditions, insect plagues, and soil issues are always present for the battle for lawn dominance. We are all busy to invest time and money taking care of our lawn that we are often looking for a way to win this war and decide to turn to artificial lawn to minimize the physical effort and our monthly expenses.
Artificial Grass for your Home
Artificial grass has come a long way since a few years ago when it was invented. Manufacturers are getting better at turning the traditional lime green carpet into products that more closely resemble real grass. Newer types of artificial grass combine innovative new textures and slight color variations to approach natural lawns.
Artificial grass is made from artificial fibers that are knit into a mesh backing material. This material is installed on top of stone and other impact-absorbing base materials. Since the fibers have a tendency to lay flat (particularly the longer they are), a rubber infill mix is then added to separate fibers and help them to stand up. Here are some of the benefits:
- No irrigation required
- Lower on-going cost of maintenance
- No mowing required
- Maintains color and thickness year round
- No need for fertilizers or other lawn care products
- Won’t die or lose color from pet urine
- More wear tolerant than natural grass
At first glance, artificial grass for home lawns may seem like an obvious choice, but it’s one option to consider that isn’t perfect. There are also potential problems with artificial grass to consider when choosing what is best for you and your home in Southern California. These are some to consider:
Surfaces get much hotter than natural lawns (some people actually install sprinklers to cool areas off during hot days; pay close attention to this, you may need it on a summer afternoon with over 100 degree weather)
- Potential to melt if installed next to glass or surfaces that reflect a great deal of heat
- Although lower-maintenance, areas still need to be cleaned, groomed, and infill added periodically
- More difficult to repair than natural lawns
- Higher installation cost than natural lawns
- Comparable, but is still noticeably artificial when compared to real grass
Is Artificial Grass a Good Idea in Southern California? 
When weighing the advantages and disadvantages of artificial grass for your property, you’ll ultimately need to decide if it’s right for your home. Both options still present unique challenges and benefits that could make artificial grass a great choice for at least specific areas of your property.
If you’re considering having a company in Los Angeles install artificial grass on your property make sure you not only consider the pros and cons of artificial grass as well as your community’s rules. If you are based in Los Angeles County and your home is part of an HOA, please check their requirements before making a decision, some prohibit the use of artificial turf on certain areas of your property.
Potential Areas to Consider Artificial Grass for Home Lawns
- Pet areas: If you have designated areas where your pets typically ruin natural grass, artificial grass can be installed to prevent wear and urine damage. Some newer materials even have deodorant properties to combat the ammonia contained in urine.
- Drought-prone areas: As restrictions increase, artificial grass for home lawns becomes a good options to reduce the need for watering.
- Poorly-accessible areas: Depending upon your property layout, it may be very difficult to get mowers or other equipment to lawn areas. Artificial grass may be a good option for some of those areas.
- Play areas: If there are designated areas for swing sets or playground equipment, artificial grass may be a great option in the immediate vicinity.
Go Natural, too!
Even though they do require a good amount of maintenance with irrigation and lawn care programs, real grass is still a great option. Real grass offers superior benefits for air quality as it releases a large amount of oxygen back into the atmosphere. A natural lawn will also help with stormwater runoff and reduces the temperature around homes. Make no mistake, real grass is very good for the environment.
Again, both options have their pros and cons, so consider them before calling your choice a done deal.
Can my pool builder install this for me too?
Yes and yes!
There are hundreds of options for pool and landscaping installers that can add artificial grass to your home in Los Angeles. If installing a pool and adding landscape components to your pool project, you should pay close attention to contract one that can do it all, or work very closely with your pool contractor. A company that truly cares about you making an informed decision will discuss in detail any problems with artificial grass, or maintenance challenges of real grass. They should help you make a decision you’re educated about and comfortable with.
Here at National Pools we can install either or depending on your family needs, we can help you make an informed decision based in our experience. Contact us of a free on site consultation today!
