Artificial turf changed everything for me. From spending hours every weekend mowing my backyard to finally having time for brunch with my kids — the shift was massive. It wasn’t just about saving water or looking good. It was about taking back my time, energy, and yes — a lot of money.

Let’s be real: keeping a natural lawn alive, especially in areas with tough summers or water restrictions, feels like an uphill battle. Between fertilizers, pest control, reseeding, and unpredictable weather, the cost (both financial and emotional) adds up.

When I Did the Math, My Grass Stopped Making Sense

A couple of years ago, I sat down with a spreadsheet and calculated my lawn care expenses for the year. The results? Shocking. In just 12 months, I’d spent:

• $540 on watering (even with a sprinkler timer)
  
• $380 on fertilizers, weed killers, and pest control
  
• $700 on professional lawn services (because let’s be honest, I got lazy mid-year)
  

That’s over $1,600 for something I couldn’t even walk barefoot on without getting itchy. And guess what? It still looked patchy by October. Somewhere around that point, I stumbled across an article about artificial turf and started digging in.

How Fake Grass Got Real for Me

The idea of installing synthetic grass seemed odd at first. Wouldn’t it look too fake? Would it feel weird underfoot? But the more I researched, the more it made sense. Artificial grass today doesn’t resemble the plastic carpets from the early 2000s. Modern turf feels soft, looks lush, and drains water better than you’d expect. And if you choose the right installer, it’s customizable to your space, pet-safe, and UV resistant. Meaning: no fading, no mowing, no mud puddles.

Upfront Cost vs. Long-Term Win

Let’s address the elephant in the yard — the initial cost. Yes, installing turf isn’t cheap. For my 1,000 sq ft backyard, the total came to around $6,000.

But here’s the kicker: I’ve now gone 3 years without:

• Paying for a single drop of irrigation
  
• Spending hours pulling weeds or fixing sprinkler heads
  
• Hiring a gardener to “bring it back to life” every spring
  

That’s already $4,800 in savings — and counting. Experts say high-quality turf can last anywhere from 15 to 20 years. Do the math. The ROI speaks for itself.

No Water. No Mower. No Worries.

One of the most immediate changes I noticed was on my water bill. Summer used to spike my usage like crazy. Now? I’m running an efficient home without wasting gallons on keeping grass alive. My weekends? No more sweating under the sun with a mower or raking leaves. Instead, I’m sipping lemonade, guilt-free, watching my kids play soccer on a yard that’s always green.

Good for the Planet, Too?

This surprised me: installing artificial grass actually reduced my environmental impact. No gas-powered tools. No pesticides seeping into the soil. No overwatering during droughts.

Plus, many turf products are now made using recycled materials and can be recycled again at the end of their life cycle. Win-win.

The Dog-Tested Backyard

Pet owners often worry about artificial lawns. Will it hold up? Will it stink?

Speaking from experience: my golden retriever went from digging holes in the yard to peacefully napping on the turf.  No muddy paws. No brown patches. With proper drainage and occasional rinsing, odor has never been an issue. If anything, my dog loves the turf more than he did real grass — and I love that I’m not cleaning my floors three times a day anymore.

Real Neighbors, Real Results

Since installing artificial turf, three of my neighbors have followed suit. One of them, a single mom, told me she used to dread lawn maintenance every month. Now she says her weekends are for rest, not yard work.

Another friend, who runs a daycare from home, was sold after realizing the turf could take daily kid-tumbles without turning into a dust bowl. Their verdicts matched mine: This wasn’t just about the lawn. It was about reclaiming freedom — financially and mentally.

What to Consider Before You Switch

If you’re thinking of going turf, here are a few things I learned:

• Choose the right pile height: Shorter piles are easier to clean; longer ones feel more luxurious.
  
• Ask about infill: This affects softness, heat retention, and drainage.
  
• Pick a trusted installer: A bad install job can ruin the experience. Look for ones who guarantee their work.
  
• Don’t skimp on drainage: Especially important for rain-heavy areas or pet owners.
  

The Bottom Line: It’s Not Just Grass

Installing artificial turf is one of those decisions that feels “extra” at first — until you realize how much you’re saving. Not just in dollars, but in hours, stress, and effort. If you’re tired of unpredictable grass, sky-high maintenance costs, or spending Sundays sweating behind a mower, maybe it’s time to rethink what a lawn should be. Mine now stays green, no matter what the forecast says. And that? Is the kind of investment I’ll never regret.

Photos By: Unsplash

This guide will walk through how this process works so you can decide if it’s right for your property or not!

Decide If You Want To Do It Yourself Or Hire A Professional

Hiring someone else will cost you more money, but they can get the project done faster and with better results than what you’d achieve on your own. If budget is not an issue for you, we recommend hiring professionals as this might save time and frustration later on down the road. If you decide to go with a professional such as experts from PerthArtificialGrass.com, make sure they have experience in the field and ask for references from previous clients so that you can see what kind of work they do when it comes to artificial grass installation. If budget is an issue, we recommend doing it by yourself as this will save money and allow us more control over the project.

This step is an important one as it will determine if you hire someone or go with a DIY project down the road. We recommend that first-timers choose to install artificial grass on their own unless they have prior experience in laying out turf and installing other products similar to this such as floor mats for cars, carpets, etc.

Prepare The Area Where You Want To Install 

This step is important for both DIYers and professionals alike. If you are going to hire someone, make sure that they will do this part themselves as it is best done by experienced staff who know what they are doing when laying out turf on your property. On average, a professional should charge around $20/sqft for this part of the project.

If you are going to do it yourself, make sure that you have either rented or purchased all necessary equipment such as a rotary hammer drill and an edging tool to mark off where turf can be laid down. This will save time and money in the long run. Make sure that you have all your supplies on hand with any necessary materials for fixing issues that may arise.

The Ground Has To Be Flat

This can be a difficult step for those who are doing it by themselves as leveling out an area under turf can take some time, effort, and experience. Make sure that all soil is removed from the area so there isn’t any leftover dirt or rocks that may come up through the turf later on.

The best way to do this is with a rotary hammer drill and post hole digger which can be rented at most tool rental centers for around $50-100 or purchased cheaply online. If you are not experienced in using these tools, we recommend hiring someone who has experience so that they will be able to get the job done faster and with better results. If you are doing it yourself, make sure that you have rented or purchased all equipment needed such as a rotary hammer drill and post hole digger. This will save time and money in the future for this project if you do not know what you’re doing.

Lay Down Your Base

This is another important step that should not be taken lightly as having a good base will prevent any future turf issues such as heaviness and other quality problems with artificial grass. The best material for this part of the project is crushed stone which can be found at many construction supply stores. Make sure that the stone is at least two inches deep before you put down your next layer of material which should be about an inch in depth. It can get expensive depending on where you live and how much stone or other base materials are needed to complete this project properly, but it’s definitely worth doing if you want turf that is free of problems. If you are doing it yourself, make sure that you have rented or purchased all the necessary equipment.

Installing artificial grass will be easy for those who are experienced in installing turf whether it’s by themselves or with others, but can become a difficult task if done improperly which is why we recommend hiring someone else to do this part of the project unless you have the prior experience yourself. For more information on how much it costs to install artificial grass, check out our other blog post on this topic.

In conclusion, installing artificial grass can be a difficult task for those without prior experience so we recommend hiring someone else to do the job if you don’t have any knowledge in laying turf or applying carpet floor mats and similar products.

We all know the battle of the neighbours – who is going to have the nicest, most lush grass and it’s definitely not easy. Artificial grass is the answer to all of your lawn problems, no more watering, no more cutting the grass, and definitely no more weed picking! Here are some of our most important selling points when it comes to artificial grass and why we think you should have it at home too!

Very Low Maintenance

When it comes to artificial grass, the maintenance is pretty much NO maintenance compared to a real lawn. No more watering and mowing the lawn required! However there are some things you still need to do like with a regular lawn. For example, if you have trees nearby you will definitely still have to rake the leaves and dispose of them. You’ll also have to occasionally rake the grass even if there is no leaves. Artificial grass needs to be raked to look it’s best and there is a special artificial grass rake to do this job. If you are not up-keeping your artificial grass in this way, it will eventually look flat and dull.

It Looks Way Better than a Regular Lawn!

You have to admit, artificial lawns look way better than the real thing. It’s impossibly green and perfectly cut making your lawn look it’s best at all times – even in the winter time! A traditional lawn looks amazing when first installed, but the battle of a drought, grass mould, and so many other factors can make a new lawn look rough after only a few years. An artificial lawn will look the same from the day it’s installed to the next 5 years!

So Much Better for Kids

Kids love artificial lawns much better than real grass, no more grass stains on their clothes, no more mud, and it feels like you’re playing on a big outdoor carpet! If you want your kids to play outside even in the winter time when things get wet and muddy, artificial grass is the way to go.

Your Neighbours will Go Crazy!

Eventually you will have some envious neighbours of your perfect lawn! A lawn that requires absolutely no mowing, fertilizing, aerating, watering, and weed picking is something that will definitely catch the eye of your neighbours. Be prepared for them to be asking how you installed your lawn, where you purchased it, and if they can try it out a bit!