By Rebecca Latta

Thinking of replacing a lawn and considering alternatives?
Make sure not to choose artificial turf. Read on to learn why.

Artificial turf:

• Creates a barrier to soil moisture, potentially harming nearby plants
• Promotes higher soil temperatures, which can burn underlying roots
• Is composed of plastic which eventually degrades, leaving harmful particles in the soil
• Deprives plant roots of needed air circulation
• Suffocates beneficial soil microorganisms which are essential for plant health
• Kills earthworms and beneficial insects that live in soil
• Reduces soil fertility by creating a barrier to beneficial leaf litter
• Takes the place of excellent lawn-alternative ground covers, such as native plants
• Reduces opportunities for native wildlife, such as pollinators, to thrive
• Takes the place of permeable and sustainable paving alternatives
• Promotes the out-of-date notion that a lawn is necessary to enhance a property’s appearance
• It’s fake and it looks fake. There are many beautiful, practical and sustainable alternatives that are worth investigating!