Artificial grass

I now have been reading how bad lawns/grass are for the “system”.I would like to hear some of your thoughts on the  benefits of artificial grass versus regular maintained lawns.To
me if you lay  everything out a artificial lawn is a lot better for the environment than your typical golf course like lawn that requires fertilizers and weed killer throughout the year.
If any one has any data on this let me know please and thanks.The town I work in banned it.

Generally speaking, plastic in the environment is bad. It breaks down into microplastics that are ingested and enter the food chain.

Artificial grass is really just astroturf.

Living lawns maintained with chemical fertilizers and attention aren't as good as a polyculture designed to replace it, that largely maintains itself, but at least it is alive, and maintains somewhat living soil beneath it.

Artificial grass is actually worse than just dropping a tarp over it. Not only is anything living under it smothered, but the lack of living soil means that the microbes collected by it thrive on the plastic itself.

Plastic grass isn't a good solution in my books. This is my opinion, but I wouldn't call it permaculture.

Please look at all the alternatives Paul has on this site. From wet meadow to xeriscaped lawn replacement, there are a variety of good options that will actually work to detoxify and bioremediate your area.

Good luck, and good on your municipality for banning artificial turf.

-CK

I agree with Chris on artificial grass.

Plant grass that does not need maintenance.

There are several native types of grasses that are conservation grasses.  Buffalograss, Curly Mesquite, and Blue Grama.  Plant these three together for a maintenance-free lawn.

https://permies.com/t/93789/Love-Affair-Buffalograss-Buchloe-dactyloides

Besides planting native grasses I recommend reading Dr. Bryant Rehawk's Soil Series:

https://permies.com/wiki/redhawk-soil

This thread will give you and others an alternative to that chemical stuff:

https://permies.com/t/185538/composting/Liquid-fertilizer-Compost-Compost-tea

My "lawn" get mowed and we pull noxious weeds as soon as we see them which keeps sand burrs, thistles and burr producing hedge parsley a minimum nuisance. It's too hot to use the yard on those rare occasions we might think about watering so we just allow a summer dormancy.  In nice weather we have a lush green area spotted with mini flowers and full of life from birds, bees and butterflies down to lizards, toads and worm snakes.  We even have fireflies in the warm months. We even value the wasps and tarantulas.

Absolutely, I completely understand where you're coming from. There's been a lot of talk lately about the environmental impact of traditional lawns versus artificial turf, and it's definitely worth considering.

First off, artificial grass does seem to have some clear advantages when it comes to environmental impact. Unlike regular lawns, which often require fertilizers, pesticides, and weed killers to maintain that pristine green look, artificial turf doesn't need any of that. That means no harmful chemicals leaching into the soil or running off into nearby water sources, which is a big win for the environment.

Plus, artificial turf doesn't need watering, which is a huge deal, especially in areas prone to drought. Traditional lawns can guzzle up a ton of water, especially during the hot summer months, but artificial turf stays green and lush without a single drop. That not only saves water but also reduces the strain on local water supplies.

And you're right about golf course-style lawns being particularly demanding. They often require a ton of maintenance to keep them looking perfect, which can mean a lot of emissions from mowers, trimmers, and other equipment. Artificial turf, on the other hand, requires minimal upkeep once it's installed, which means fewer emissions and less noise pollution overall.

As for data on the environmental benefits of artificial turf versus regular lawns, I'd be happy to look into it further for you. There's definitely been some research done on the topic, so I'll see what I can find. And it's interesting to hear that your town has banned artificial turf – I wonder what their reasoning behind that decision was.

Overall, it seems like artificial turf could be a smart choice for both homeowners and municipalities looking to reduce their environmental footprint without sacrificing the beauty of a green lawn.

I agree with Chris.

I also wonder if people with artificial grass laws have dogs.  I can let my dog outside to do her business and all it does is fertilize the lawn.  But I have heard of some pretty awful stories of people with artificial lawns, especially in arid environments with water restrictions, who then get a dog.  I will spare the details, but the short of it is that the “lawn” must be cleaned every time the dog goes outside.  This typically involves dragging out a hose to rinse off the affected area.  And since a perfect rinsing is never really possible and other critters do their business without warning, I have heard of some pretty awful smells coming from the “lawn.”  Finally, I can only guess how hot one of these “lawns” gets in blazing sunlight.

Eric

Eric Hanson wrote:I agree with Chris.

I also wonder if people with artificial grass laws have dogs.  I can let my dog outside to do her business and all it does is fertilize the lawn.  But I have heard of some pretty awful stories of people with artificial lawns, especially in arid environments with water restrictions, who then get a dog.  I will spare the details, but the short of it is that the “lawn” must be cleaned every time the dog goes outside.  This typically involves dragging out a hose to rinse off the affected area.  And since a perfect rinsing is never really possible and other critters do their business without warning, I have heard of some pretty awful smells coming from the “lawn.”  Finally, I can only guess how hot one of these “lawns” gets in blazing sunlight.

Eric

Never thought about that lol...

My take on it is that yes, artificially maintained pristine yards are definitely bad. Folks thinking about artificial turf as a solution may have their heads in the right place about wanting to avoid the bad parts of a "perfect yard," but they just haven't really developed/researched/thought about the solution that hard. I think that once folks start pricing how much a bunch of artificial turf would cost and how ugly it would look and how bad it would smell, they would realize that maybe it isn't a great solution. Ideally though, they'd then look further and stumble upon some good solutions like the ones being recommended here.

Unfortunately, one of the appeals of the typical suburban lawn is that it is relatively standard to install and maintain (note the use of the word "install" and not "plant"..). You can move from the PNW to Austin, TX and care for your standard lawn more or less the same way. It makes it easy. Whereas thinking about an alternative solution that works in PNW is different than thinking of a solution that works in Austin. Having a typical lawn is just much easier for most folks not too concerned with the environment.

I don't know if it is still in practice though at one point in time, folks out in Arizona had artificial lawns.

I assume due to water issues and not having to mow ...

I doubt that folks didn't walk barefoot in summer.

Certainly, this is not a permie trait ...

Personally, I'm considering Creeping Thyme because, if online information is correct, it stays between 1-3" tall.  And my property will be huge.  I don't want to mow more than once or twice a year and Creeping Thyme won't be attractive to chiggers or the poisonous snakes in my area (copperheads and rattlesnakes).  Plus, it does well in poor soil.  Clay is definitely poor soil.  Just have to make sure there are no areas for the rain to puddle up too badly because it does need good drainage.  Not to mention having a sea of beautiful blooms that would attract pollinators.  (Even Permie Pollinators would be welcome!)  

I'm not set in stone on this yet, but it seems to be the best option for me so far.  Artificial grass is out of the question.  I'm all about nature and don't want to smother everything beneficial under plastic grass.  Besides, I'm at the point in my life, especially with the way the world is today, that I can't abide, tolerate, or bear anything that's FAKE anymore.