Cost Comparison of Synthetic Turf & Natural Grass

Synthetic turf has much lower maintenance costs than grass.

Synthetic turf and natural grass may have both been popular options for stadiums and fields for many years, but only recently have alternatives to natural grass moved to yards throughout the United States. Many manufacturers of synthetic turf are now marketing to homeowners who may want a lawn that is easier to manage. What works best depends on how much money the owner is willing to pay for an initial investment, and how much money they want to save over a long period of time.

Synthetic Turf

Synthetic turf, also known as artificial or synthetic grass, is a type of plastic turf that imitates the color and feel of real grass. While this turf must be carefully installed over the proper base materials, it can be put in very quickly and needs far less care than natural grass.

Natural Grass

Natural grass can be either seeded or set down in rolls as turf, but turf is the faster method and produces the most uniform results. Natural grass grows on a bed of soil and provides a gentler surface, but it is also victim to dead or muddy spots and diseases. Grass must be watered and fertilized in order to maintain proper condition.

Initial Cost

Grass is significantly cheaper to install than turf. Depending on the location and the size of the lawn, synthetic turf costs about $9 a square foot, leading to several thousand dollars or more for a normal-sized lawn. Grass only costs $1 to $2 per square foot.

Initial Installation

Turf typically requires a basic infrastructure, drainage systems for excess water and installation permits. Grass installation requires proper soil preparation and irrigation equipment. Both of these cost several hundred dollars during the first stage of installation, although they vary according to the lawn and the location of the home.

Maintenance Costs

Maintenance costs are much lower for synthetic turf than for natural grass. The turf only needs to be washed occasionally and sometimes disinfected. Grass requires regular water, trimming, fertilizer and treatments for any diseases that crop up. This leads to yearly costs of $300 to $400 for artificial grass, compared to $600 to $800 for natural grass (depending largely on the size of the lawn).

References

• GCISD Bond 2010: Cost Summary Comparison
• Turfgrasssod: Natural Grass and Artificial Turf
• Ecowaterlessgrass: Synthetic Lawns & Grass