So, you’ve been considering replacing your natural turf with synthetic turf. Each type offers distinct advantages; it just depends on your needs. Natural turf has the authentic look and feel that people love. However, natural lawns require ongoing maintenance and water to keep them looking lush and green. Synthetic turf is durable and easy to maintain. However, artificial turf has a higher upfront cost than natural turf.

We love natural turf but also understand why property owners choose synthetic turf. We aim to meet our clients' needs, so we have installed artificial turf in parks and other properties. In this blog post, we'll explore the pros and cons of both options and highlight how each can uniquely benefit your property.

What is the Difference Between Natural and Synthetic Turf?

The obvious difference between the two is that one comes from the earth, and the other comes from man-made materials. Artificial grass will never need mowing or watering, either. We’ll break down the Pros and Cons below:

Pros of Artificial Grass

• No irrigation required
• Low maintenance
• Maintains its thickness and vibrant color year-round
• Durable (ideal for recreational areas)
• Pet and Kid Friendly

Cons of Artificial Grass

• Retains heat
• Requires regular cleaning
• Difficult to clean up pet waste
• It doesn’t feel natural
• Made from non-biodegradable materials
• Requires proper drainage planning and execution

Pros of Natural Grass

• Soft feel underfoot
• It provides a natural habitat
• Biodegradable
• Provides natural cooling through evaporation
• Absorbs rainwater and irrigation
• Prevents erosion by water and wind
• Purifies rainwater and improves groundwater quality
• Much cheaper compared to the installation costs of artificial grass

Cons of Natural Grass

• Requires regular mowing and maintenance
• Vulnerable to pests and weeds
• It goes dormant in winter
• Heavy use can make the grass patchy
• Requires watering (problematic in drought-prone areas)

Artificial Turf Maintenance Requirements

No doubt, maintaining a synthetic lawn is minimal compared to natural grass. However, it will still require a bit of upkeep and maintenance to keep it looking its best. Here are some maintenance recommendations:

Routine Maintenance: Lightly brush the synthetic blades with a stiff natural bristle broom. This will remove dust and debris.

Deep Cleaning: Routine maintenance is great, but deep cleaning two to three times a year will keep it looking nice and tidy. A wet vacuum system can spray and extract soiled water in one pass. Once that’s complete, rinse thoroughly.

Infill Management: Top off low areas and rake and groom materials if required. Inspect the infill levels and check that they remain uniform. You may have to fill occasionally.

Weed Control: Look for weeds that may establish along seams or edges. The good news is that weeds can’t grow through the backing. Even better: there’s no need for herbicides.

Pet Waste: Solid pet waste must be picked up promptly. You can clean urine stains from the blades by soaking them up with an absorbent towel.

Experience Quality Service. The Difference...Is Growing

Westturf Landscape Management aims to keep your landscape beautiful year-round. From HOA and Apartment communities to retail shopping centers and other industrial centers, when it comes to commercial landscaping in Vista, CA and San Diego County, no one does it better than Westturf! Call us 760-650-3120 or send us a message for a free quote.