Adding grass around your pool is as easy as a shopping trip
From balancing chemicals to regular cleanings, pool maintenance isn’t always easy. In fact, it can sometimes feel like it’s sucking the fun out of summer—so don’t let your lawn add to your backyard workload. Installing artificial grass around a pool is a great way to keep a pristine, green lawn with minimal effort. Here’s everything you need to know.
Artificial grass pool surrounds are made from synthetic fibers like nylon, polypropylene, or polyethylene that are crafted to look like natural grass—just without the typical lawn maintenance. You can install them on top of almost any level surface, whether it’s topsoil or concrete. Typically, a contractor will remove existing grass and debris from your yard before laying down a weed barrier, installing a layer of aggregate for drainage, securing the turf around your pool, and adding a layer of infill.
There are a few different types of artificial grass, and different brands have different specialties. Some are focused on pet-friendly solutions. Some offer grass with cooling or antimicrobial technology. Others are simply focused on creating the most realistic-looking artificial turf possible. Though what you need depends on a number of factors, these popular brands offer some of the best artificial grass for a pool area:
AstroTurf
TrafficMaster
SunVilla
SYNlawn
XGrass
Goasis Lawn
Pet Grow
Everlast
Lita
NoMow
Not all turf is created equal, so you’ll need to think about your specific needs when shopping for an artificial grass pool surround. Here are some things to consider.
Artificial turf is made from one of three kinds of plastic yarn—polyethylene, polypropylene, or nylon. These yarns have a range of durability, affordability, UV resistance, and realism.
| Yarn Type | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Polyethylene | Most realistic, good durability | Prone to UV damage |
| Polypropylene | Most affordable, softest | Least durable, prone to flattening |
| Nylon | Most durable, most UV resistant | Least affordable, hardest texture |
Real turf grass includes a range of grass species that produce aesthetically different blades. Artificial grass isn’t all that different. Instead of a blade, you have a fiber. Depending on the grass you buy, the fiber could be short and rigid (like what we see with putting greens) or longer and softer (like what you’d expect in the average backyard). When shopping for artificial grass, consider the fiber’s:
Height
Width
Thickness
Rigidity
Quality
Higher-end fibers resist flattening and have a more realistic look. Some even come with synthetic thatch that mimics the dead grass that builds up on a real lawn. If you want the most realistic look and feel, go with a turf that has thatch.
Artificial turf is made of two main parts: the fibers (i.e. the blades of grass or pile) and the backing. There are two layers of backing—the fibers are sewn into the first layer, and the second layer holds it all in place. The heavier the backing, the more durable. The backing also determines the type of drainage.
Though all artificial grass has some form of built-in drainage, it’s particularly important if you’re installing artificial grass on a pool deck. Generally, the backing is either:
Perforated: Holes are punched in the backing to allow water to pass through.
Non-perforated: The backing is made with a 100% permeable material that has pores instead of larger drainage holes.
Since artificial grass pool surrounds are subject to a lot more water than your average lawn, it’s best to stick with a non-perforated backing. It’ll allow the water to drain more quickly, and if you still have problems, you can install additional landscape drainage.
Think of density like a thread count for sheets. The more dense the fibers, the higher the quality and durability of the artificial grass. High density will give your grass a lush look. For a pool surround, choose an artificial grass with a minimum density of 16,000 stitches per square meter.
Face weight—the ounces of yarn per square yard of turf—helps determine the durability of artificial grass. The denser the turf and the longer the blades, the higher the face weight. For artificial grass around a pool, choose a turf with a face weight of at least 70 ounces.
Artificial grass comes in different pile heights (i.e. height of the blade of grass). It’s not dissimilar to how you’d mow your lawn to a specific height. For the area around a pool, you’ll generally want to choose artificial grass with a pile height of one and a half inches or less. Err on the shorter side if you have pets.
Just like regular turfgrass, artificial grass comes in a variety of colors—from realistic yellow-greens to bright, blue-tinged greens. The right color is all about personal preference, but for the most realistic look, choose a grass that includes multiple colors. In particular, look for sparse yellowish strands meant to mimic dead blades.
UV rays can damage artificial grass, especially if it’s placed around a pool. That area tends to be one of the sunniest spots of a yard. That said, some artificial grasses are more UV-resistant than others. You can find brands with built-in UV resistance, which helps make sure your grass doesn’t fade or break down in a sunny climate.
For the area around a pool, it’s a good idea to look for artificial grass that has antimicrobial properties—especially if you have pets. This helps prevent the growth of mildew and bacteria in the excess moisture. It can also help prevent pet odors.
Why choose artificial grass instead of concrete or any other kind of pool deck? It may not be the right solution for every backyard, but there are definitely a lot of benefits. Here’s an outline of the pros and cons of artificial grass around your pool.
Your pool’s decking doesn’t have to be concrete. However, when choosing a material, you’ll want to consider safety, drainage, and of course, functional space. Artificial grass is the perfect bedding for lawn chairs and pool towels. Plus, it can stand up to heavy traffic from kids, pets, and pool parties.
For most pool owners, safety is a top priority. While stone pavers and concrete decks can be slippery when wet, artificial turf provides some traction to prevent slips and falls. And when an excited kid does take a tumble, artificial turf is nicer to fall on than a concrete slab.
The main drawback of a concrete backyard is where water goes when it rains—and typically, you’ll need some kind of landscape drainage or carefully planned hardscaping. Unlike concrete, modern turf has built-in drainage, which is extra helpful when dealing with splashes from an errant cannonball.
That said, not all artificial turf drains as well as real grass. Perforated varieties can have slow drainage that leads to pooling. Instead, choose a non-perforated variety that’s made with a porous backing.
For a picture-perfect backyard, artificial grass fits the bill. You might remember older turfs that looked like weird green plastic carpets, but modern artificial grass options actually look like grass.
Grass lawns need mowing, fertilizing, and watering. And they leave you with debris like grass clippings and dead bugs in your pool. Artificial lawns don’t attract bugs and don’t have clippings that stick to wet feet. That means less gunk to fish out of your pool.
Artificial grass is also generally cleaner than real grass. You can purchase fake turf with antimicrobial properties that ward off mold, mildew, and pet-related odors and bacteria. You also don’t need to spray artificial grass with potentially harmful chemicals like weed killers or pesticides.
Your backyard probably gets a lot of traffic with impromptu pool parties as friends and family drop by on warm days. Grass can get trampled under heavy foot traffic, but artificial grass will retain its shape. It also isn’t harmed by the chemicals in your pool water. A little chlorine spill? No problem. Your grass won’t turn yellow.
The material you choose for your pool deck matters. And while faux grass has many perks, you should also weigh the cons before deciding what’s right for your backyard.
Artificial turf gets hotter than natural grass, but other pool decking materials like pavers and concrete will heat up considerably in the summer too. To keep things cooler, hose off the turf and choose a cooling infill. If you’re planning a landscaping project, plant trees in strategic positions to shade the faux grass.
Artificial grass doesn’t last forever. It can wear out after about 10 years of use. When it’s not looking so hot anymore, it’s not easy to recycle the materials. It’s likely all that plastic will end up in the landfill.
Natural grass also provides a habitat for bugs and pollinators, while artificial grass takes that away. The carbon footprint to make artificial turf is high and microplastics from the lawn can get into groundwater.
You’re not going to fool anyone into thinking your artificial turf is real—at least not close up. Artificial turf has a fake, plastic feel to it. It’s not as soft to sit on as real grass and can make a crunchy sound when stepped on.
Compared to real grass, artificial grass is quite the splurge. The average homeowner spends $5,175 on the cost of installing artificial grass. Meanwhile, the average cost of installing sod is $2,000. That said, grass comes with some long term maintenance costs, but you can cut down on those expenses by doing some of the maintenance yourself.
If you’re looking to fit your pool with artificial grass, you’ll need to measure the area. This product is typically sold in rolls (for larger areas) or panels (for smaller areas) by the square foot. Your contractor should be able to give you an accurate measurement in your initial quote.
If you want to measure yourself, use a tape measure to get the square footage of the installation area. If the area isn’t rectangular because you have an oblong pool, make sure you measure the widest and longest points as if it were a rectangle. You’ll cut the curved areas down to size later, but it’s better to have too much turf than too little.
After you choose the type of artificial grass to put around your pool, you should still consider a few additional factors. These may not apply to all homeowners, but if they do, you’ll be glad you planned in advance.
Turf is great for high-traffic areas because it won’t get trampled like grass—but not all turf is as resilient. For high-traffic areas, choose a high-quality polypropylene grass and keep it on the shorter side. Shorter blades with a heavy backing are less likely to flatten.
If you have children and pets, consider choosing an antimicrobial variety and a softer pile to avoid turf-related injuries (i.e. turf burn). Certain brands design turf specifically for pet owners, which helps mask odors and fight bacteria.
Infill is small bits of material that cushion the artificial grass blades and help your turn retain its shape. Typically, it’s made from silica sand, cork, quartz, or rubber. Since the area around the pool can get quite hot in the sun, you may want to choose a cooling infill that reduces your turf’s overall temperature.
Different manufacturers have different warranties, which usually cover UV-degradation, fading, staining, pet odors, and extreme ware. Keep in mind that chlorine-related damage typically isn’t covered, though artificial grass is resistant to chlorine.
Generally, turf manufactured by a reliable brand comes with a 15-year warranty—though, that isn’t always the case. A budget-friendly, lower-end turf may not have a long warranty, so if you need to save a buck on your budget upfront, be prepared to replace it sooner than later.
Always interview three contractors to get a sense of the market. This can help you better understand general prices in your local area. Remember, if a price seems too good to be true, there’s usually a reason. Always check references and reviews. Don’t know where to start? Contact an artificial grass installer near you.
Generally, artificial grass installation costs $5 to $20 per square foot, including materials and professional installation. If you have a pool with curves (as opposed to a rectangular pool), expect to pay an additional $1 to $3 per square foot for labor. They’ll need to cut the artificial grass to size, so it will take a bit longer to install.
Candace Nelson contributed to this piece.
Pool water—or rather, the chlorine in pool water—generally doesn’t damage artificial grass. This type of grass is made from plastic fibers that are incredibly resilient. That said, you can damage artificial grass around a pool in other ways. For example, the sun’s reflection off a window or fence can melt polyethylene fibers. A temporary pool can flatten and cause an indent in turf.
Generally, you shouldn’t lay artificial grass straight onto concrete. You’ll want to add some sort of underlayment that acts as a cushion. This makes it a little bit safer for children running around a pool and is recommended to prevent injury in recreational settings. It also protects that artificial grass’ backing. Just glue the grass to the underlayment using the proper adhesive.
Artificial turf usually requires some sort of base. If you’re installing the grass over soil, you’ll want to add a weed barrier (weeds can damage your fake grass) and an artificial grass sub-base. Typically, this is a mixture of gravel and sand, like crushed miscellaneous base (CMB) or decomposed granite. If you're placing turf over concrete, you can skip the sub base and use a padded underlayment.
As long as you properly maintain your artificial grass, you can expect it to last about a decade. It all depends on foot traffic and general wear. Some artificial lawns can last up to 20 years, but pool areas tend to experience a lot of sun and activity. Turf in these areas generally wears down more quickly than, say, a shady backyard without much use.
