Last Updated on January, 2025
Are you fed up with mowing, watering, and weeding your natural lawn? Are you sick of seeing wilting and discolouration on your natural grass? Are you set on installing artificial grass? Well, you’ve come to the right spot.
In this article, we will lay down the key differences between artificial grass and Astro turf, their unique characteristics, and various applications to help you decide what is best.
Quick Summary
- Artificial grass is designed to resemble natural grass and is ideal for residential and commercial landscaping. In contrast, AstroTurf is mainly used for sports fields due to its durability and ability to withstand heavy foot traffic.
- Artificial grass mimics the look of real grass with varied shades and textures, while AstroTurf appears more uniform and less realistic, with a single green color. Artificial grass is typically made of materials like polypropylene, polyethylene, or nylon.
- Both artificial grass and AstroTurf are more expensive than natural sod, with artificial grass generally costing $12-$49 per square meter and sports turf between $49 and $75 per square meter. Artificial grass requires minimal maintenance, while AstroTurf is more durable for high-use areas but also requires cleaning to prevent bacteria buildup.
Key Differences Between Astro Turf and Artificial Grass
The main difference between artificial grass and Astro turf is what it is used for. Since synthetic grass can mimic natural grass compared to Astro turf, it is better suited for residential homes and commercial lawns.
On the other hand, Astro turf is mainly used in sports facilities specifically designed to take in significant foot traffic without looking worn down.
Artificial grass is synthetic grass made to look and feel like natural grass. This is made up of polypropylene, polyethylene, or nylon, and each has different uses.
Artificial grass is great for homeowners who want the aesthetic look of real grass and for children to play in.
AstroTurf was mainly made to replace the grass on a sports field to allow athletes to play on solid, durable surfaces. Since artificial turf was made for sports fields, it was never made to look realistic.
You can easily tell that it is fake grass upon a closer look as it is just made of one colour unlike natural grass that has different shades of green and even some specks of brown.
Both artificial grass and turf vary in price and quality. Similar to real sod, synthetic grass is priced by square feet. However, both turf and artificial grass cost more than a live sod. Good quality artificial grass will cost $12 – $49 per square metre.
An artificial sports turf can cost between $49 and $75 per square metre. The overall price will depend on the size of your lawn, the synthetic turf or grass brand, and if you opt for professional installation.
Pros and Cons of Artificial Grass
Artificial grass dries out your lawn quickly after rainy weather and doesn’t harbour pests, unlike real grass lawns. Your family can spend more time in your yard or garden.
Fake grass also does not require the same maintenance as natural lawns do; say goodbye to mowing, weeding, and watering constantly.
Artificial grass can be surprisingly life-like, with realistic blades that come in varying lengths and styles that sway in the wind like the real thing!
Due to its versatility, you can practically use this anywhere you want to have a pop of colour; backyard, sunroom, or balcony.
However, artificial grass does tend to look more worn out over time. Unlike Astro turf, synthetic grass is not built to withstand heavy use and can start to look flat and worn after continuous use in high-traffic areas.
While you can save money on maintenance, artificial grass has a high initial cost of $12-$49 per square foot.
Artificial grass can also be a hotbox for bacteria breeding as it can trap blood, skin, and waste, so even though you don’t need to mow your yard, you will still have to maintain and clean it.
Relevant guides:
Pros and Cons of Artificial Turf
Artificial turf is known for its durability to provide a consistent playing surface for energetic kids and pets. Artificial turf is long-lasting, can withstand high-intensity rigours of various sports for 15 years, and even longer for low-traffic areas.
Especially in the sports industry, Astro turf is a favourite due to its low maintenance costs, as a fake turf doesn’t need watering or mowing.
However, a synthetic field can be quite costly with hiring labour, landscaping, and installing the turf compared to live grass naturally growing. Unlike artificial grass, Astro turf is short, uniform green, and doesn’t feel like regular grass.
Like any turf, it can get hot in extreme weather and make it difficult to walk in. To combat this, you can give the space a drizzle of water.
Like artificial grass, Astro turf can also harbour bacteria from blood, skin, and waste. It is advisable to maintain and clean it regularly with a hose.
How to Install Artificial Grass and Astro Turf?
If you want to save on installation costs and show off your knack for DIY, then you could lay the new artificial grass yourself.
A flat surface like a play area or pet space is easier to install compared to large and uneven backyards, which professionals are better off doing. Once installed, you won’t have to fret on maintaining it as it doesnt grow or die.
FAQs
Final Thoughts
Artificial grass and AstroTurf are popular alternatives to natural turf, and the question of which is better boils down to personal preference.
Artificial grass is realistic and provides many benefits like low maintenance, water conservation, and being allergy-friendly. However, it fails to be as durable as Astro turf, which is more suited for sports settings.
