Artificial Grass Vs. Natural Grass

Costs

• Those opposed to natural grass playing fields say they are more costly to maintain than artificial ones. But Pennsylvania State University in a 2009 horticulture newsletter said this is a "mistaken idea" and cited average maintenance costs from Michigan State University that were close for both kinds of turf.

Environment

• One major environmental concern involves water consumption. Natural lawns and playing fields usually need lots of water to stay alive. Artificial playing fields also consume water for cleaning and cooling. On hot days, temperatures of artificial grass fields can be nearly 40 degrees higher than those of natural grass fields.

Safety

• Bumps, dips and muddy, compacted areas in poorly maintained natural turf can cause accidents. There is concern that the smoother, slicker playing surface of artificial turf leads to more falls and abrasions, which can result in infections. Another prominent safety concern involves whether artificial grass and the filling beneath it shed lead dust and carcinogens. Research about these issues is inconclusive.