Plant Trees

Let's say someone's on the fence about artificial grass. What would you say to them? I'd say it really comes down to your priorities and values, what matters most to you. If you're someone who values convenience, low maintenance, and a pristine lawn year-round, no matter what Mother Nature throws your way, then artificial grass could be a great fit. But if you're someone who cherishes the feel of real grass beneath their feet, the smell of freshly cut grass on a summer evening. Exactly, those sensory experiences. Well, technology hasn't quite figured out how to replicate those perfectly yet. Yeah, it's like trying to capture the smell of rain on a hot sidewalk. You get close, but it's not quite the same. Exactly.

So if those sensory experiences are really important to you, then maybe the trade-offs of artificial grass aren't worth it. It's about finding what aligns with your lifestyle and what you value most in your outdoor space. Because some things just can't be replicated, right? Exactly. And hey, maybe that's okay. Right. Maybe there's room in our world for both the real and the well. Almost real. I think you're onto something. It's about recognizing that each has its place and choosing what aligns best with, like you said, our individual needs and values. Well said. And speaking of needs and values, we'd be remiss if we didn't address the elephant in the room, so to speak, when it comes to wands. We've talked a lot about the practical side of things, but there's another layer to this, isn't there?

Like many of us, countless homeowners struggle with growing real grass. Many are ready to explore alternatives, but are often surprised by the cost when artificial grass is quoted.

Artificial grass is not inexpensive compared to a simple re-sodding using real grass. The initial cost of artificial grass is upwards of 6 times the price of re-sodding. However, when comparing the price of artificial grass with the never-ending maintenance costs of a real lawn over 15 years, it becomes evident that artificial grass will save significant sums of money, all without the everyday annoyance and avoidable effort of maintaining a real lawn.

Design Turf has been installing artificial grass in the GTA, Toronto, and beyond for the past 25 years and has an extensive landscape construction background; it knows full well the actual cost of maintaining real grass lawns.

Homeowners who struggle to grow real grass often face difficulties beyond their control.

The most common list of difficulties includes conditions such as

Mature tree canopy blocking needed sun for good grass growth .

TREES ARE GOOD! NOT ONLY WILL TREES REDUCE CARBON, but TREES WILL also PROVIDE SHADE WITH NATURALLY COOLING PROPERTIES 10 DEGREES OR MORE

TO OFFSET INDIVIDUAL CARBON EMISSIONS THE AVERAGE FAMILY OF FOUR NEEDS 44 TREES.

Poor soil conditions, such as clay and compaction, reduce water retention. Compacted soil may need aeration, a process of lifting small plugs of turf to create air spaces in the soil. Compacted soil requires annual aeration so that the grass can get the nutrients it needs.

Testing the soil’s pH – it should read between 6.5 and 7.0, which is slightly acidic. Soil that is too acidic needs a sprinkling of lime; add sulphur to soil that’s not acidic enough. Lawns grow best in loamy soils that have a mix of clay, silt, and sand.

Excessive traffic is typical where multiple children or pets congregate.

The DOUBLE WHAMMY of raccoons ripping up lawns to feed on grubs that feed on the grass roots. Inspect your lawn biannually for pests, including grubs, moles, cinch bugs and many more.

Lack of watering or regular fertilization procedures. Regular deep watering is necessary for healthy grass development. Overseeding is highly recommended in spring and fall to help fill in patchy areas. Annual thatching and heavy raking are needed, as too much thatch prevents water and nutrients from reaching the grassroots.

Insufficient weed handpicking prevention often leads to unmanageable weed infestations.

In the illustration that follows, we hope to demonstrate that the savings of switching to artificial grass based on an average-sized backyard measuring 20’ x 25’ or 500 ft2 are significant.

REAL LAWN COST

One-time cost (many will have to re-sod every 5-8 years) to install a real lawn, including ground prep, a sprinkler system, and sod cost is $2,375. The cost to maintain the same lawn, including fertilizers, organic weed control, mowing ($250 per month), seeding, watering, soil adjustment, etc., is $2,384.85.

Over ten years, a real lawn cost totals $26,215.85.

The price of water is predicted to increase significantly over the coming years.

ARTIFICIAL GRASS COST

Based on the same size, a high-end artificial grass will cost 500 ft2 x $13.50 ft2 + $1.50 for Envirofill/Microban in-fill = $7,500.00 all in.

Over the lifespan of an excellent artificial grass (40+ years), savings are upwards of $95,000, not including the initial outlay for sod and a sprinkler system.

Couple those savings and choose Design Turf’s brand-new turf system, Fairlawn/ Greenplay, a system that stays almost as cool as real grass.

Artificial grass may even be an environmentally smart choice.

Fairlawn/ Greenplay almost the same tempeature as real grass

Fairlawn/ Greenplay is almost the same temperature as real grass