Artificial Grass VS Turf: The Real Differences Revealed

If you’re looking for a better alternative to grass for your home, then you’re probably researching about the different kinds of artificial turf and grass available…

Nowadays, there is a huge range of options for both artificial grass and turf, so you should take your time to consider the differences between the two before deciding on which you’d like to purchase.

Artificial grass and turf each have their own advantages and features. However, both have a lot of advantages over regular grass or turf, such as being more resilient, more environmentally friendly, and requiring less maintenance.

The Key Differences Between Artificial Turf and Artificial Grass

Artificial turf and grass are ultimately two types of the same product. Both artificial turf and artificial grass are a man-made alternative to natural grass.

Though it is made from synthetic polymers, it is carefully designed to simulate the look and feel of grass, but perform better and last longer.

However, there are still big differences that distinguish artificial grass from artificial turf. Being more sophisticated and better-designed, artificial grass is generally longer and feels more comfortable to walk, run, or sit on.

The key difference between artificial grass and turf is their intended use. Artificial turf is largely intended to be used for sports, so it is shorter and tougher.

On the other hand, artificial grass is generally longer, softer and more suited to landscaping purposes. Most homeowners would opt for artificial grass as a replacement for a lawn, for example.

Some people actually prefer playing sports on artificial grass, too. This is due to the fact that artificial grass is often softer and more bouncy, giving it a feel similar to playing on a grassy lawn.

This also means children and pets will be more protected from accidents and trips, especially if you intend for your lawn to be a play area.

Artificial Turf Is Made For Sport

One of the most important advantages of artificial turf is that it has been designed to withstand wear and tear. This is because the main purpose of artificial turf is sports and recreation.

As such, installing artificial turf is a great idea if you want a space to play sports but don’t want to worry about maintaining grass.

In artificial turf, each grass blade is short and stiff. It requires little brushing, and does not lose its original shape easily.

There are different types of artificial turf available based on the sport you want to play. For example, you can get different types of artificial turf for playing soccer, rugby, and even golf.

This is another advantage that artificial turf has over natural grass: If you want to have a grass field for a particular sport, then you need to constantly maintain it so that it stays at a particular length.

You don’t need to worry about this with artificial turf. Once you’ve bought the turf and installed it, you can use it as much as you like with very little wear and tear for many years to come.

Now, you may not want a whole football pitch in your backyard. But turf can still be useful if you want to build a small putting green, for example.

Artificial Grass Looks Much More Realistic

In general, artificial turf is more functional and suited for heavy usage than artificial grass. But on the flip side, artificial grass looks much more like natural grass.

Artificial grass is designed to simulate natural grass as close as possible, both in terms of looks and feel. It uses different shades and shapes for its grass blades, and it even looks different under sunlight.

A good artificial grass will also come with a laying of thatching. This refers to the brown layer of organic material found just above the soil in natural grass. This is also replicated in artificial grass, giving your lawn a realistic look and a bouncy feel.

There is a wide variety of artificial grass to choose from. You will find grass of various pile heights, colors, density and materials too.

Artificial Turf Is Designed To Prevent Injuries

Since artificial turf is largely made for playing sports, it has also been designed to minimize injuries.

This is a great feature if you and your family plan to play sports frequently, as you won’t have to worry too much about anyone getting injured.

In fact, artificial turf is actually a lot safer than natural grass when it comes to injuries. There are a number of ways that artificial turf reduces injuries or the likelihood of injury when playing sports.

For example, you are much less likely to fall or trip when playing on artificial turf. The short pile height means you are unlikely to slip on it, even if it is wet.

Additionally, the infill spread throughout the artificial turf gives it a cushioning effect, softening trips and falls.

And whereas natural grass can develop patches, dips and holes, artificial turf will stay flat and consistent all year round with little maintenance.

Artificial Grass Is Better For The Home

Artificial grass is arguably the better option for your home. Not only is it more versatile than artificial turf, but it looks far more natural and realistic.

The truth is, there’s nothing better than relaxing in the sun on a soft, vibrant artificial lawn that looks and feels exactly like natural grass. It also gives children and pets a beautiful place to play on.

This also means it blends in with real plants and flower beds much easier. It opens up a lot more options for you to decorate your lawn.

It’s also a better option for your home than natural grass for families. For example, artificial grass doesn’t have any allergens or pollen, so it can’t trigger your allergies or hay fever.

And whereas artificial turf will always look like fake grass, your friends and neighbors would never be able to tell your lawn was made from artificial grass!

Similarities Between Artificial Grass and Artificial Turf

While we continue the “artificial grass vs turf” debate, it’s important to remember that they have plenty of things in common too. After all, both are synthetic alternatives to natural grass.

The truth is, both artificial grass and turf share many great features and advantages over natural grass. These will save you thousands of dollars and hours of work in the coming years, so it’s important to bear them in mind before you make your final purchase.

Both Are Very Easy To Maintain (No Stress!)

One major benefit that both artificial grass and turf provide is that they don’t need to be watered or maintained much. You don’t have to worry about plastic grass drying up in the summer!

Also, both artificial grass and turf are much less susceptible to damage from harsh weather and wear and tear. In fact, you won’t even have to worry about your dogs digging holes in your lawn anymore!

Since artificial grass generally has longer pile heights than artificial turf, you may need to brush it more often. But besides this, both require little maintenance.

Both Saves You Money In The Long Run

Some might feel artificial grass or turf costs a lot of money. But while it is true that installing natural grass is slightly cheaper at first, you can save a lot of money in the long run with an artificial alternative.

For example, you don’t need to find a gardener or landscaper to take care of your artificial lawn, whereas a natural lawn will need specialist care every now and then.

It is also inevitable for you to run into problems with patches, weeds and dry soil with natural grass, especially in harsher climates. With artificial grass, these problems are completely avoided!

What’s more, you don’t need to hire anybody to mow it or maintain an artificial lawn. A quick sweeping and brushing every week is enough!

And we haven’t even mentioned costs associated with pesticides, weed killers and fertilizers yet!

Both Will Save You A Lot Of Water

Some critics claim artificial grass, being made from synthetic polymers, is not environmentally friendly. But this is simply not true!

The fact that you don’t need to water artificial grass or turfs means that both are great options for saving water. This is fantastic from an environmental standpoint, as well as saving money and time.

The truth is an artificial lawn can last up to 20 years or more. In other words, that’s 20 years of water saved!

And with artificial grass and turf, you don’t need to worry about your grass drying out in the warmer months. You save water, time and money while helping the environment too!

Conclusion

At the end of the day, which one you will choose will depend on your specific household and needs.

For most homes, we recommend going for artificial grass. There are many options that can tailor to your specific tastes and needs, whereas artificial turf is more specialized and designed specifically for sport.

That being said, a lot of homeowners are building putting greens in their yards. If this is the case, then an artificial turf might be more suitable.

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