Landscape professionals weigh in: The pros and cons of artificial turf

As Colorado cities set stricter limits on the types and amounts of grass that homeowners can plant especially on new or redeveloped properties a great number of homeowners are turning to artificial turf to comply with regulations and conserve water Several Colorado cities like Aurora and Broomfield set strict regulations restricting the use of high-water grasses and ornamental water features Other cities including Denver and Colorado Springs limit lawn watering hours or days to conserve water Although installing artificial turf reduces water use it raises questions about installation and maintenance costs long-term benefits and environmental impact The average cost to install artificial turf ranges from to per square foot depending on turf quality site preparation and labor A typical -square-foot project can cost between and Although a large number of people think artificial turf is maintenance-free keeping it clean and fresh requires chosen care Lauren Floyd a design assistant with C H Landscaping noted artificial turf still requires maintenance especially to remove pet waste It uses less water than traditional sod but you do have to water it to wash out that pet waste she mentioned Ross Hulstein CEO of Highlands Landscaping noted installing proper drainage for artificial turf to clean pet waste is vital if you have dogs He also recommends installing a sprinkler system to keep the turf clean You might need to turn it on for five minutes once a week rather than minutes every day he revealed While older artificial turf products especially those that looked more like outdoor carpets tended to degrade relatively expeditiously newer products are hardier This is my fourth season with the company and I haven t seen any clients who needed to have their artificial turf replaced or repaired Floyd explained I ve had artificial turf at my house for years and it looks brand new In addition to reduced water requirements installing artificial turf eliminates the need to weed or mow But Dan Zehr owner of Living Landscapes cautions about artificial turf s feasible physical condition and environmental impact I do not recommend it for of applications Zehr noted Homeowners should be concerned about microplastics in the artificial turf and potentially toxic products used in any infill Artificial turf like weed fabric and rock also doesn t help the context like natural grass or groundcover plants At least a Kentucky bluegrass lawn is providing a host for insects and ground foraging birds he explained Related ArticlesMay Sponsored Tariffs stock realm fluctuations make luxury home buyers skittish May Sponsored Despite surge in Colorado home inventory cautious buyers pull back May Sponsored Sellers offer concessions as Denver home arena experiences inventory boost May Sponsored After pandemic migration Denver experiences enhancement and renewed interest April Sponsored Colorado homeowners scramble for affordable coverage as rates skyrocket Instead he recommends using plants as ground cover to help birds and pollinators Kristin Crawford office manager for Waterwise Landscapes agreed and commented majority of homeowners prefer low-water plant options She also notes that the Fort Collins-based company rarely installs artificial turf Its last artificial turf project installation was a putting green a year ago The news and editorial staffs of The Denver Post had no role in this post s preparation