With temperatures cooling, it’s time to get in the backyard and enjoy the evenings and weekends, but weekend fun shouldn’t have to include putting in a winter lawn, constant watering, and worst of all, mowing, over and over again.
Instead, now is the time to go green with artificial turf.
“Real grass is a constant battle in Arizona,” claimed Dan Bjorkman, owner of AZGrassman. “A green lawn can be a thing of beauty, but quality artificial turf gives the look and enjoyment of a green lawn without the hassles,” he continued. “We live in a desert, especially out here in the East Valley. It takes a lot of water to keep a lawn growing green and healthy.”
Turf pays for itself in three to five years in water savings alone. According to Dan, the average Valley lawn requires approximately 61,000 gallons of water each year, which is approximately 70 percent of a homeowner’s water bill.
“Artificial turf can keep your free time relatively maintenance-free,” Dan said. “There’s no more dirt, mud, burnt grass or unsightly pet stains. You can just sweep or blow leaves off turf,” he continued.
“Turf is very pet and kid friendly,” Dan said. “Since it is used on professional football fields, it is cushiony enough to absorb falls. With a wide range of grass types and colors, the plush green appearance of your lawn looks authentic, enhancing the value of your home and yard.”
Dan believes turf is a great alternative to gravel, as well. “It’s not easy keeping gravel looking neat, and it requires chemicals to kill weeds, which are constantly cropping up,” he said. “It’s certainly not as usable or attractive for playing or relaxing as a soft turf cushion.”
There also are other ecological benefits. Turf is made from recycled materials and uses no chemicals. AZGrassman also uses an environmentally friendly product underneath their turf. In addition to a bed of sand, they add Durafil, made of 99 percent silicone dioxide. It is resistant to bacterial spore growth, does not absorb pet urine or other contaminants, and it contains no heavy metals. Some installers have come under criticism from environmentalists for using fill made from shredded tires. Durafil also can be some 30 degrees cooler to the touch in direct sunlight.
In addition, artificial turf can turn an ugly brown space into a putting green. AZGrassman offers a texturized nylon turf, which allows the ball to land similarly to that on a real green.
“To budget for artificial turf, calculate the square footage of the area (multiply length by width) and estimate $4 to $7 per square foot for the turf and installation. An average installation takes one to two days,” Dan said. “Although the upfront cost to install turf is not small,” he admitted, “it quickly pays for itself.”
For more information, an estimate, or to see the new AZGrassman outdoor showroom, located at 16628 N. Saguaro Blvd., in Fountain Hills, and featuring nine different lawns and putting greens, call Ozzie Strand at (480) 363-2154. You also can view turf options and get a free quote by visiting www.azgrassman.com.