Originally posted on April 24, 2020 @ 8:48 pm

Everyone loves the idea of a lush green lawn that is the envy of the neighborhood. Well-maintained lawns increase the value of a home, and the image of children and pets frolicking through the yard is a charming one. 

But as attractive and comfortable as that soft green lawn might be in your mind’s eye, it can end up costing much much more than you think. There are the money costs of all of the water, fertilizer, and maintenance, and then there are the labor and time costs that you have to spend maintaining all that. This article will walk you through the costs of a natural lawn, and how artificial turf responds by making things easier and cheaper. 

The Monetary Costs of a Natural Lawn

As attractive and comfortable as a soft green lawn may be, it can cost more than you think. While you can leave maintenance at a minimum, and just opt to occasionally cut the grass if you’re looking to have a well-maintained and easy-on-the-eyes lawn, enthusiasts can expect to spend thousands of dollars to achieve lawn zen. 

First, to maintain a lawn properly, you’ll need to purchase the requisite equipment. If you choose to get a people-powered lawnmower, you won’t have to spend too much, but small engine lawnmowers cost anywhere from $300-$1500. Then, after that, you have to get a leaf blower or a weed wacker too. Then you have to pay maintenance costs, pay for the gas, and if you’re paying someone else to cut the lawn, you have to pay labor costs too. 

Nobody loves a leaf blower, and in addition to their cost, the noise from them can seriously irritate your neighbors. When you use something like artificial turf, cleaning and maintenance is easy, and you’re definitely going to bug your neighbors less. 

Let’s talk about water costs. On average, a 500 square foot lawn requires 310 gallons of water. In 30 days, that’s 9,300 gallons. That’ll cost anywhere in the range of $70-$100 a month, depending on where you live. If you’ve got a lawn that’s larger than that, or you live in a hot and dry climate, it’ll cost even more. Not too mention the environmental significance that watering a lawn can have. 

It’s not just water either, the water delivery system is also costly. Hoses are a pain to drag around the yard, snagging on rocks and crushing flowerbeds, and then you can either store them in a big heap in the ground that’s a big eye sore and tripping hazard. They can get damaged or lost so you have to repair or replace them. You can buy hose reels, hangers, or other storage systems to keep your hoses organized and in good condition, but those can take up a lot of storage space. 

Then there are sprinklers, also known as those things in the yard that people always trip on or are accidentally run over with a lawnmower. Many homeowners opt for sprinkler systems to simplify the watering process—no more dragging around heavy hoses, and you can program sprinkler systems to work on a schedule, so no more muddy flooded yards because you forgot to turn off the hose, and no more crunchy brown grass because you forgot to wake up before sunrise to water it. But as convenient as those sprinkler systems can be, they are expensive to install, and even more expensive to repair or replace. 

The costs of grass just keep adding up! 

Time

Well, let’s say you’re going to soak up a bunch of those monetary costs with good old fashioned elbow grease. Instead of a powered lawnmower, you get a push one, and you toil away to keep that yard looking completely pristine. 

But, that work is going to cost you hundreds of hours of time. Time that you could spend with your family, developing a new hobby, honing a skill. Not too mention, not everyone enjoys spending their time before sunrise and after dinner to drag around hoses and try to remember when to turn off the water. Some people treat lawn care as a hobby, but are you one of them? Heck, even the enthusiasts want to save time and money and achieve a similar result. 

Again, you could hire some people to come work for you, but that’s expensive. Why not invest in something that gives you a similar result, but frees you up to explore your life?

The Answer: Turf

If you want a pristine lawn, but don’t want to spend thousands and work yourself to the bone to get it, there is an answer. Turf gives you all the benefits of a lawn without the cost and leg work of a natural lawn. You could finance your neighbor’s kid’s college savings by paying to get them to pull weeds, mow, and water, or you could hire an expensive service. 

Instead, artificial turf is what you need. Turf will save you time and money, and you’ll watch the value of your home grow instead of your landscaping bills. Remember the cost of water for the average lawn is $70 -$100 a month? That’s $13,500 that a turf lawn will save you. 

Artificial turf comes in a variety of colors, densities, and textures. You can find a fantastic use for it in just about any environment. We even have a handy inspirational turf lookbook featuring all the creative possibilities for ways to use turf — from topiaries to roofing.

The great thing about artificial turf is that it’s not fussy. You don’t have to care for it like natural grass. No watering, weeding, fertilizing, mowing, or reseeding. The bulk of the work comes upfront when you need to install it. Luckily, we have tons of experts who are here to help you figure out the best way to solve all of your artificial turf needs. Want a beautiful and low maintenance lawn? Check out our landscaping turf. Dogs need a nice place to run around but they keep digging up your grass or turning it yellow? Our pet turf makes an ideal play area for pets. Want to work on your putting? Our golf turf provides a consistent surface to get your swing just right.  and sports and contact our experts if you have any questions. 

But What About Installation?

Yes, the truth is that artificial turf requires installation and quite a bit of upfront work. You’re going to have to level the surface, as well as preparing it for the turf by compacting, laying gravel, and installing a drainage system. Lucky for you, we have handy resources to help you install your turf. But, once that process has been completed properly, artificial turf requires little to no maintenance, and can last for decades!

Where to Go From Here

Start browsing our products today, and don’t forget to take a look at our indoor and outdoor options. Get in touch with us if you have any questions.