Astrolawn allowed?

Started by RobS • 6 replies • 1389 views

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RobS (Virginia)
Posts: 8

Posted:

Hi,

Our ARC committee just received a request to install an artificial lawn - http://www.astrolawn.com/

Has anyone run into this before? We are looking at it, but were wondering if anyone has come up with maintenance standards for the fake grass. As far as I can tell if you don't maintain it properly it will turn brown/yellow and wear.

Thanks,
Rob

MicheleD (Kentucky)
Posts: 4,491

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By RobS on 04/15/2008 5:18 PM
Hi,

As far as I can tell if you don't maintain it properly it will turn brown/yellow and wear.

Thanks,
Rob

Rob:

Good point.

However, as far as I can tell, "natural" grass will turn brown/yellow and wear and become bare or weed-prone when not maintained properly.

So, I'm not sure what your point is?

If something is required to be maintained, then would it really matter if it were artificial or natural?

At least with artificial turf, you just rip it up and re-lay fresh turf, where it might take several entire seasons to get an out-of-control "natural" lawn back to decent condition.

Depending on the size of the lot, it might even be a very eco-friendly alternative to natural turf.

SusanW1 (Michigan)
Posts: 5,202

Posted:

Hm-m-m . . . astroturf and plastic flowers. I've even seen life-size plastic palm trees. Is that what you want your neighborhood to look like?

Get a local landscape horticulturist to your board meeting and ask about the latest in drought grasses and landscape techniques. Surely you can do better than astroturf!

MicheleD (Kentucky)
Posts: 4,491

Posted:

Susan:

Don't diss "astroturf" -- seriously.

There are some awesome "artificial turf" products that would knock your socks off.

This technology has come a long way.

This ain't yer daddy's minigolf astroturf! LOL

MaryA1 (Arizona)
Posts: 7,043

Posted:

In AZ we have "desert landscaping" using desert plants and stones. In my former neighborhood there was a house right outside our HOA s/d with this type landscaping. But, apparently the h/o wanted the stones to look like grass because he had spray-painted them a sickly color green. Believe me, even astro-turf that had turned yellow or brown would have been an improvement! LOL

But, getting back to the issue of artificial grass. I've heard of some assn's that allow it and some that don't. It really boils down to how the Board and/or A/C committee feels about it. In an area where water conservation is a high priority and/or the climate makes growing grass very difficult, the board may decide it's practical to allow it. But, whatever your assn decides to do, I would strongly suggest they pass a rule either to allow it or not and inform all the members accordingly. If you've received one request there's a chance you'll recieve another.

hoatalk (California)
Posts: 603

Posted:

Considerations:

(1) Yes, we all want to be eco-friendly but also balance community appeal. I personally love the idea of reducing water use, but is this the best way?

(2) Artificial turf may look 'too perfect' from the road and really stick out. Example: If your community has grasses that turn brown in the winter then you have one lawn that is green.

(3) There are new artificial turfs that you can't tell are fake from the road..e.g. Curb appeal won't be hurt (except 2 above) or if it is not maintained as mentioned earlier.

(4) Maybe you consider allowing it in the back yard only? This way all home fronts are consistent and curb appeal is not changed. You still save significant water but the owners won't like still having to mow and water the front.

(5) Consider that this stuff is expensive and once put in new owners may not want to spend the money to replace it when needed. Also replacing only one area will make the lawn look like a patchwork quilt due to shading variations. Maintenance standards must be clear and enforceable.

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BradP (Kansas)
Posts: 2,640

Posted:

Having been involved a lot with synthetic athletic fields I would be highly skeptical of the curb appeal of something that says "you can do it yourself" All these appear to be infill systems so you are going to have tiny pieces of rubber everywhere you go. Just by walking on it you will get rubber in your socks, believe me it happens. All synthetic fields are built on top of either ashpalt, concrete or a rock sub base and have extensive drainage systems. I would be very concerned about drainage, and would also be concerned about weeds coming up through the synthetic surface.

Depending on product you buy they all have fade warranties of 5-8 years, you will have to replace the product. I think if you have a professional install it with a proper drainage system it would and could look great. However, I wouldn't want a do-it yourselfer installing this in my neighborhood.

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