Artificial Grass vs. Real Grass

Last updated on Wednesday, April 13, 2024 by Tyler Trowbridge, Bella Turf

Real Grass
Real grass is grass that has been grown with the planting of grass seeds or sod. Sod is a rug-like roll of grass and a soil layer, held together by netting or cut grassroots that is spread out and grows into your lawn.

Artificial Grass
Artificial grass is a surface of synthetic grass blades made to look like natural grass. Artificial Grass has a few variations in its name and is sometimes referred to as fake grass, plastic grass, astroturf, astro, and turf. For the most part, these names all are describing the same product, Artificial Grass.

Both types of real grass and artificial grass have their differences, the differences include: 

• Maintenance
• Aesthetics
• Costs
• Environmental Impact

Artificial Grass Maintenance

How to Maintain a Real Grass lawn
The worst thing you can do is leave your lawn neglected, as it will cost you even more to get it tidied up. The best way to avoid this is to make sure you are constantly maintaining your lawn (or by switching to artificial grass).

• Water your lawn deeply, during the summer months.
• Mow often with lawn mower 
• Fertilize your lawn often
• Aerate your yard in fall or spring

How to Maintain an Artificial Grass lawn
Artificial Grass maintenance is simple and doesn’t take up your time. Enjoy your grass, don’t just mow it.

• Regularly remove leaves and debris using a leaf blower, stiff brush or plastic rake. 
• Apply weed killer approximately twice a year
• Use an artificial grass deodorizer spray to clean away any urine from your pets (as needed)

View our articles about How to keep Artificial Grass looking new and our Bella Turf Artificial Grass Maintenance Guide.

Artificial Grass Aesthetic

The Aesthetic differences between Artificial Grass and a Natural Grass Lawn.

Real Grass
Real grass looks less perfect than artificial grass because the color, texture, and the height of the blades are dependent on external factors such as the season.

Artificial Grass
Artificial grass is always photo-ready and picture-perfect. The blades remain the same height and color year-round. Those who require a perfect front lawn year round often opt for Artificial Grass.

Artificial Grass Cost

Real Grass and Artificial Grass do not only differ in terms of maintenance, but they also differ in initial costs.

Real Grass

Sod rolls for a real grass lawn range in cost from 50 cents to $1.50 per square foot, with installation fees between $1.25 and $2.50 per square foot. You should budget approximately $2.50 per square foot for the complete installation of a new lawn.

Maintaining a natural grass lawn also involves additional expenses, such as mowing, fertilizing, and watering. Regular watering can significantly increase your water bill. Moreover, mowing typically requires about 30 minutes of your time each week.

Artificial Grass
Installing Artificial Grass is considerably more expensive INITIALLY. Artificial Grass costs $5 to $20 per square foot to have Artificial Grass installed, however the cost of maintenance is much less than real grass.

With Artificial Grass, you have no water bill, you can sell your lawn mower, and your maintenance time is greatly decreased.

Real Grass has high on-going maintenance costs and low initial costs, were as Artificial Grass has a higher initial cost, with much lower on-going maintenance costs.

Artificial Grass Environmental Impact

Real Grass

Real grass typically requires maintenance with gas lawn mowers, which emit harmful airborne pollutants. Consequently, maintaining a natural grass lawn contributes to significant air and noise pollution. It has been noted that using a gas lawn mower can be up to 40 times more damaging to the environment than running a car for the same amount of time.

* source https://cleanairyardcare.ca/sustainability/environmental-facts/

Artificial Grass
Artificial Grass does not require mowing and therefore does not have this effect on the environment.

Real grass is all natural, whilst artificial grass is manufactured, why is why many people often give artificial grass a bad rap. However, some Artificial Grass is made from recycled car tires, which are not biodegradable on their own. Artificial Grass actually keeps plastic out of landfills, and gives this otherwise useless plastic a new purpose. 

When it gets very hot in the summer, real grass is able to create a cooling effect, especially at a taller height. Artificial grass also creates this effect and is actually cooler in temperature than real grass lawn. Bella Turf Artificial Grass when combined with PureZEO Pro Infill creates some of the best feeling, most environmentally friendly, low-maintenance grass that you’ll find.

Summary

Both artificial grass and natural grass lawns have their advantages, but artificial grass might offer enough benefits to warrant consideration for some people.

Artificial Grass has evolved over the years to surpass the performance of natural grass lawns, and if you are in a position to invest in the luxury of artificial grass, it could be a worthwhile option.

The time you save on maintenance and the added enjoyment of a maintenance-free lawn could provide you with more opportunities to spend quality time with your family.

If you have any questions about artificial grass, feel free to leave us a message, and we would be glad to assist you.