Synthetic turf quick facts

What is turf?

Turf is essentially an expanse of grass, such as used for a lawn, a playing surface, or an athletic field. Turf grass is known for its lush, uniform appearance. Natural grass turf requires consistent maintenance, such as mowing, weeding, watering, chalking lines for athletic games, fertilization, seeding bare spots, filling ruts and holes, pest control, and applying herbicides for weed control.

Synthetic turf or artificial turf is a popular alternative to natural grass turf that is often used on athletic fields and is sometimes also used around residences and in other areas. This page explores the pros and cons of synthetic turf, both relative to natural turf and as a landscaping option of its own.

What is natural turf?

Natural turf is a defined area of grass that is cultivated and maintained and includes the parts above ground, the roots, and the soil. Various different grasses are used to create natural turf depending on the climate, soil conditions, and foot traffic patterns. Turf grasses are typically the same types of grasses used as lawn grasses. Common cool-season grasses—grasses that grow the most in the fall and spring and go dormant in the summer—include Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea), and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne). Common warm-season grasses—grasses that grow the most during the summer and go dormant in cooler weather—include Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon), zoysia grass (Zoysia spp.), and bahia grass (Paspalum notatum).

What is synthetic turf and what is it made out of?

Synthetic turf is a fake, nonliving, artificial grass that looks similar to real grass. Turf grass is made of polyethylene, polypropylene, a backing material such as latex or polyurethane, infill (loose material such as sand or rubber pellets that is added on top of the turf to help prop up the artificial grass blades and keep the turf smooth), and coating, which helps, for example, to keep the turf cooler on hot days and protect it from UV light. 

How common is synthetic turf?

Synthetic turf became widespread in the United States in the 1970s for baseball and football fields and was first referred to as AstroTurf. It was marketed as having benefits over natural turf that included faster game play. It was also said to be cheaper than grass turf (which is a misconception), since institutions would not have to pay to have someone mow the grass, chalk the lines, and perform other types of costly maintenance.

Since its introduction, artificial turf has gone through three generations of improvements and innovations. Today, artificial turf fields can be found everywhere from elementary schools to national sports leagues, and the use of artificial turf is experiencing continuous growth. The market for artificial turf is projected to reach $3.8 billion by 2025. Synthetic turf is now being used at stadiums as well as around private houses and in commercial gardens. 

Why is synthetic turf popular?

Many athletes like synthetic turf because it provides a consistent playing surface. The grass is uniform across all areas of the field. It contributes to faster and more exciting gameplay because the ball can glide farther instead of being slowed by holes and other inconsistencies that occur in natural grass turf. 

Synthetic turf is considered to be more durable than natural turf in terms of both weather and withstanding heavy human foot traffic, as well as for sports that include sharp movements and pivoting, such as football and soccer. Synthetic turf is also marketed as a way for big institutions to save money, although when installation, equipment, and maintenance costs are considered, the monetary savings are likely relatively small.

Some synthetic turf is also used for residential yards. It may, for example, be an appealing option for people living in dry regions where growing green grass requires consistent watering. Some people may also install it to make functional or attractive outdoor spaces where grass cannot be grown (for example, over concrete or on a patio).

What is more cost effective, synthetic turf or natural turf?

There are many variables that may impact the expense of synthetic and natural grass turfs over their lifetimes, which makes generalized cost comparisons difficult. Overall, the costs of natural grass and synthetic turf may be similar when measured over time. Once purchased, synthetic turf needs to be replaced every eight to ten years (natural grass turf may also have to be replaced frequently, depending on how it is used). Synthetic turf has a significantly larger upfront price due to the combined costs of installation and materials; the cost may be up to several times that of natural grass.

The yearly maintenance costs of synthetic turf may be lower than or similar to those of natural grass, whereas the maintenance hours are often lower. Maintenance of synthetic turf includes grooming, disinfecting, weeding, brushing debris, infill replacement, mending seams or tears, and eliminating pests underneath the turf. Maintenance for natural grass turf includes regular mowing, fixing patches or holes, watering, fertilizing, application of chemical (herbicides, pesticides), and, for athletic fields, chalking boundary lines.