Types of Artificial Grass For a Low-Maintenance Lawn
Don’t compromise on looks while cutting down on maintenance
Highlights
Artificial grass is a low-maintenance alternative to sod.
Most artificial grass is made with nylon, polypropylene, or polyethylene.
Faux turf can come in a range of colors and heights.
Artificial turf costs about $2 to $8 per square foot.
Artificial grass is more versatile than you might think. Once reserved for putting greens, faux grass is now popular for everything from apartment balconies to playgrounds. Even homeowners are finding artificial turf to be an impressive low-maintenance and low-water landscaping alternative to natural sod for lawns. To find which artificial turf works best for your needs, learn more about the different types of artificial grass.
What is Artificial Grass?
Just like the faux monstera plant in your bathroom, artificial grass looks like real grass without the fuss of caring for a living thing. Artificial grass is made with synthetic fibers, so you don’t have to worry about a long drought or excess rain killing off your lawn. Artificial grass comes in many different types, so you can find the right color, height, and material to suit your needs, whether you’re placing it on a low-traffic balcony or covering a high-traffic lawn.
Types of Artificial Grass
Artificial grass has many different uses depending on the material it's made of. Some materials are better suited for high traffic, while others feel more natural underfoot, like a real lawn.
1. Nylon
Nylon is a durable type of artificial grass material that can withstand high heat and heavy foot traffic. Although this is a tough option, it doesn’t look as natural as some other artificial grass materials. Its stiffness also doesn’t feel great under bare feet. Instead, this works great for putting greens.
2. Polypropylene
Polypropylene is the least expensive grass material, but it’s not very durable against a lot of traffic or harsh heat. It may work well for a balcony or on an athletic field, and it does have a softer feel similar to real grass.
3. Polyethylene
Polyethylene is a good middle ground if you want something that feels and looks like real grass, but is also strong enough to withstand high traffic and heat. This style comes in a range of qualities and prices, and higher-quality polyethylene grasses are more durable. This type of artificial grass is also great for pet owners, as it doesn’t retain odors and is easy to clean.
Colors
When it comes to artificial grass, you can find just about any shade of green under the sun. Bright green colors work great for athletic fields or mini golf courses, while medium- to dark- hues will make for a realistic lawn for homeowners. For patios and playgrounds, bright colors in shades of blue, pink, yellow, or orange are fun alternatives to the usual green turf.
Heights
Pile height for artificial grass ranges from about 10 millimeters to 50 millimeters. Shorter pile height is generally better for high traffic, while taller artificial grass looks more realistic. For the average lawn, a pile height between 20 millimeters and 40 millimeters will offer a good balance of durability and a natural appearance.
10 to 20 millimeters: Short grass is great for athletic fields or extremely high-traffic lawns.
20 to 30 millimeters: This height looks similar to a freshly mowed lawn and offers some durability to foot traffic.
30 to 40 millimeters: Many landscapes will look great with grass at this height. It can withstand some foot traffic, but you may need to brush it up every once in a while.
40 to 50 millimeters: Taller types of artificial grass will look lush and natural, but keep running through the lawn to a minimum to keep the grass looking its best.
Density
Regardless of the type of artificial grass you use, the density—also known as the stitch count—will contribute to the final look. The density refers to the number of blades per square inch. The more dense the artificial grass, the more durable it will be. Plus, it’ll look more realistic.
| Artificial Grass Uses | Density |
|---|---|
| Low-use spaces | Low |
| Standard use in residential landscapes | Average |
| Pets, durability, high-use spaces | High |
Uses
There are many reasons to lay down artificial turf, whether you want a healthy-looking lawn without the upkeep, a safe and inclusive playground in the backyard, or a nature-inspired balcony space.
Pets
Just because you have pets doesn’t mean you need to lay down sod. You can find pet-friendly artificial turf that is easy to clean. Plus, faux grass can be a great option for furry friends with allergies. Polyethylene turf is a good choice that won’t absorb odors from pet waste.
Golf Courses and Athletic Greens
Artificial turf is a popular landscape choice for golf or mini golf courses, putting greens, and athletic fields because of its minimal upkeep. Plus, artificial grass doesn’t become slippery or muddy the way real grass does after a rainy day. Options made with nylon or polypropylene can also withstand heavy foot traffic and harsh materials like clubs and cleats.
Playgrounds
Artificial grass offers many safety and accessibility benefits for playgrounds. It is ADA-compliant and antimicrobial. Because there are no mud or grass clumps to worry about, kids can play freely without making a mess and with minimal tripping risk.
Balconies
Faux grass is a reliable way to make a small apartment feel more like home. Apartment dwellers can install artificial grass on a balcony as a temporary upgrade that makes their outdoor space look more natural.
Lawns
For homeowners who want to spend less time mowing, weeding, watering, and fertilizing the lawn, artificial grass is a good alternative. Polyethylene grass offers a realistic look for curb appeal and feels nice to step on, even with bare feet. Artificial grass is also popular in areas prone to drought.
Special Features
You can land on a pretty durable faux grass based on material and height alone, but added features available for some products will make your turf more resistant to fading, heat, staining, and fire.
UV-resistant coating: Sunlight can fade the vibrant green hue of artificial grass, unless protected with a UV-resistant coating.
Polyurethane backing: This type of backing is strong yet flexible, plus it offers good drainage. If budget allows, go for this backing instead of traditional latex.
Non-flammable coating: If you plan to put a firepit near the lawn, choose a turf that is non-flammable.
Multi-toned blades: For a natural look, opt for grass with blades in varying tones of green.
Temperature-resistant: If you live somewhere with hot summers and freezing winters, choose heat- and frost-resistant grass so it looks great for many years.
Maintenance
No mowing, no problem. While there are certainly pros and cons of artificial grass, a great pro is that it’s easy to take care of. You’ll need to clean it occasionally and rake away autumn leaves, but there’s no need to break out the mower or weed-whacker on a hot summer day to make this grass look its best.
Spray down artificial turf immediately after spills.
Use common household cleaners for spot cleaning.
Rake up leaves as needed.
Pick up solid pet waste as soon as possible, and spray down pet urine.
Use an artificial turf brush to make the faux grass blades stand back up if they look limp or trampled.
For worn-out areas, replace them with patches of new artificial grass.
Frequently Asked Questions
You need to put shock-absorbent material under artificial grass. While it will depend on where exactly you’re placing artificial grass, there are a few different options you could use such as silica sand, granite sand, astro-cushion, weed membrane, and geo-textile paper.
The cost to install artificial grass is about $2,800 to $6,700, depending on the size of the project and the type of turf. You’ll pay about $2 to $8 per square foot, so covering a 100-square-foot balcony or patio in faux turf will cost about $200 to $800. Check out artificial grass installers near you to find the best option for your needs.
The ideal thickness of artificial grass is dependent on the project/area it’s being used for—for instance if you’re using it for general landscaping you may want to go thicker than if it’s in an area that will be highly used by pets and children. Overall, you should aim for artificial grass to be a thickness of 20 millimeters to 40 millimeters.