Last Updated on December 22, 2020 by ReTurf

Finding water-saving turf solutions is a great way to conserve water or have a green lawn in dry climates. There are numerous solutions to this problem, and we will look at a couple of the most popular and effective options here.

Traditional Natural Grass Strategies

With decades of regional droughts and global water-saving campaigns, traditional natural grass lawns have been at the center of strategy development. In this, several methods for reducing the amount of water that lawns require have been mapped out.

These include:

  • Finding grass species that require less water.
  • Utilizing grass species that are drought tolerant.
  • Reduce irrigation system run times.
  • Regularly inspect the irrigation system for leaks and performance.
  • Utilize new technologies: rain sensors, smart irrigation controllers, etc.
  • Change your lawn expectations.
  • Completely redesign the landscape with drought-tolerant plants instead of grass altogether.

While these steps will greatly reduce water usage, there is a drastic increase in expenditures. With more effort and more money involved, you will still be battling a browning, dry lawn.

a picture of various types of artificial grass used to save water in lawns.

Modern Solution: Artificial Grass For Saving Water

Artificial grasses offer a solution that requires no irrigation while maintaining the look of a fresh green lawn – in any climate. With the advancements in artificial grasses, these turf products look and feel just like the real thing. When you combine the maintenance savings from a traditional grass lawn with the lifespan of these products, you can save tens of thousands of dollars over the life of the artificial turf. That is all while not using irrigation systems at all.

 

a view of artificial turf used for an outside rest area.

 

The average lawn in the US uses 35,000 gallons of water per year, per 1000 square feet. At the same time, over 60% of lawns are actually overwatered. So, the real-world numbers for gallons used are much higher. Artificial grass can have a lifespan of 20 years. In those 20 years, vs a traditional lawn, you can save over 1,000,000 million gallons of water used.

Add to this maintenance and upkeep costs required for natural grass lawns (services, fertilizers, reseed, and the like), the financial math really starts working in favor of artificial grasses as well. It is important to find the right artificial grass product, advice, and installer when deciding to go artificial grass – but the outcome and savings will more than speak for themselves in the end.