Artificial grass - not as beneficial as it may seem
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381931)
Rockingham, Australia
August 3, 2023 10:37pm CST
It’s interesting how something comes on the market and it’s touted as the next best thing to sliced bread. One I can think of is ‘wet wipes’. They started off being aimed at young mums but now many people of all ages find them very useful. However, it has now been found that, because they’re designed to withstand getting wet, they can cause clogging of toilets, leach drains and septic systems.
The latest not-so-good invention seems to be artificial grass. On the face of it, this seems a godsend. It looks good, doesn’t require watering or mowing, prevents the growth of weeds and, in general, has a lot of advantages.
But there are disadvantages too. Typically, a hybrid mix of, eg, polyethylene, polyester, polypropylene, nylon, is used to make the grass. As such, it does not have the same cooling effect as living plants. Surface temperatures of artificial grass typically reach the same temperature as asphalt, and around 20-50oF higher than natural grass. In built-up areas where artificial grass is prevalent, there is none of the passive cooling effect that natural grass and trees provide.
The photo shows kangaroos on our previous property enjoying some natural grass.
28 people like this
30 responses
@Starmaiden (9308)
• Canada
4 Aug 23
I would love to have some artificial grass for my balcony. The floor boards have gaps between them and my downstairs neighbor complains about every little thing that gets dropped between them and lands on their balcony. I wouldn't worry about over heating because I only get the sun in the morning. When it goes over the building at around 11:00 am, I am shady and cool for the rest of the day.
4 people like this
@GardenGerty (169448)
• United States
4 Aug 23
That sounds like an appropriate use for it as you cannot plant real sod there and the neighbor would complain if you tried. That or some kind of an outdoor carpet would be nice for you.
2 people like this
@BarBaraPrz (51811)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
4 Aug 23
There's indoor/outdoor carpet... often available in green. 
3 people like this
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I miss your kangaroos!!@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
7 Aug 23
@JudyEv Our neighbor installed it last year in his front yard. It looks silly around his big ash tree . . . the soil sort of mounds at the bottom, and with the artificial grass it looks extra unnatural. Yah, he just has a small blower to blow off leaves - and no watering required.
1 person likes this
@changjiangzhibin89 (17239)
• China
4 Aug 23
Generally,disadvantages and advantages are two sides of the same coin.Artificial grass is not a patch on natural grass!
3 people like this
@rebelann (117211)
• El Paso, Texas
4 Aug 23
People here do something similar, they like to put gravel over a layer of plastic all over their property thereby preventing plants from growing ...... it does the same thing artificial grass does, it heats up way to much especially now with the temperatures being mostly over 38c.
3 people like this
@rebelann (117211)
• El Paso, Texas
7 Aug 23
Yes it does. Luckily my back fence neighbor and I simply let grow what will grow although he has a mower and cuts the weeds down now and then, I do that by hand and lately there's been little need, not much is growing in the heat we've been getting.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (174319)
• United States
4 Aug 23
It's also less than beneficial to use artificial turf because it can cause drainage problems which make flooding probable in some areas.
3 people like this
@DaddyEvil (174319)
• United States
7 Aug 23
@JudyEv True, other than not having to mow it.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (135643)
• Marion, Ohio
4 Aug 23
Never knew that about the artificial grass
2 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (135643)
• Marion, Ohio
7 Aug 23
@JudyEv It wouldn't. But I am not around it a lot
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222285)
• United States
4 Aug 23
Love the photo. We use wet wipes but dispose of them in a diaper pail. Didn't know about the high temperatures on artificial grass. Enjoy your weekend.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (381931)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Aug 23
@LindaOHio That's interesting. This is a septic system so a bit more sensitive than sewerage systems.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222285)
• United States
7 Aug 23
@JudyEv Our septic tank guy said that the flushable wipes don't break down as they should; and they can clog the pipes in a septic or city water system.
1 person likes this
@thislittlepennyearns (68246)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
4 Aug 23
Think that you need to come visit me and bring me a kangaroo to keep as a pet
3 people like this
@terramars (166)
•
4 Aug 23
And, it can be more expensive to install than natural grass.
3 people like this
@allknowing (153544)
• India
4 Aug 23
I have even seen artificial grass slippers and it is claimed they give the same effect as walking on natural grass
2 people like this
@allknowing (153544)
• India
7 Aug 23
@JudyEv One of my friends' son was marketing them and yes in Australia (lol) they are settled there.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (91299)
• United States
9 Aug 23
Mankind will never cease it invent toxic crap.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (91299)
• United States
16 Aug 23
@JudyEv I saw this on a very lovely street here I was walking not too long ago..it looked so out of place and of course it was fake grass.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (91044)
• United States
4 Aug 23
We have real grass here so I never even really gave much thought to the disadvantages of artificial grass.
2 people like this
@Deepizzaguy (122105)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
5 Aug 23
That is true since when mankind comes up with something like artificial grass, the bad side of the product usually offsets the good side.
1 person likes this
