No weeds, no watering, no bugs, no pesticides, and no mowing… sound too good to be true? If you are the one who maintains the yard, it may be. But, it’s true—there is a way you can achieve a pristine lawn without hired help—-get a fake one. Hold on, don’t check out just yet… allow me to explain. According thousands of homeowners who recently participated in a study sponsored by a major synthetic turf manufacturer—-fake lawns are in style.
But are they worth it? If you spend countless hours fighting weeds, brown spots, the lawn mower and pet damage, I would say: “yes.” For years (ever since my dad had major surgery) I have been telling my parents to “just fake it.” After all, synthetic turf has come so far in the past decade. There is a product called “Easyturf” that looks and feels just like the real thing. If you are thinking “Astroturf,” think again–there’s no comparison. Advances in technology have led to an impressive crop of “almost real” grass.
According to participants in the synthetic turf study, “you simple can’t beat grass that’s dog-proof and kid-proof.” Manufacturers of the turf also say the product drains better and is made to last. If you look at the underside of a sample you’ll see that the polyethylene blades are held in place by a mix of sand, recycled tennis shoes and tires. In addition, some companies, such as “Easyturf” claim their product is environmentally friendly because it saves water and doesn’t need fertilizer.
But, perhaps, the biggest draw is the claim that with a synthetic lawn maintenance is almost non-existent—simply use a rake or blower to remove leaves. The downside: no-nonsense lawns don’t come cheap. “Easyturf” starts at ten bucks a square foot. Also, keep in mind some municipalities or deed-restricted communities may not allow them, so it a good idea to consult your local office prior to forking over all that green.