How popular is synthetic grass outside of sports?
The other common application of artificial turf outside of a sporting environment is in landscaping. This use has become increasingly popular in recent years, as the authenticity of the turf has become much higher and now seems a lot closer to natural grass.
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Synthetic lawns are also extremely convenient, as they require no watering, mowing or weeding, meaning that they are perfect for people who may have disabilities or time-consuming jobs. They are also beneficial for people with pets, as they can't dig holes in the artificial turf as they could in a natural grass lawn.
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Artificial turf is advantageous for families with young children, as they are good for playing on, posing no health risks to them, and the artificial blades are also skin-friendly, so no rashes are caused, whereas a natural lawn may be sprayed with pesticides that could cause a reaction. Artificial turfs have become popular for rooftop gardens, as no maintenance is needed.
Hot Climates:
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Having an artificial lawn installed in very hot climates is also good for the environment, as it conserves water that would be otherwise be used watering a natural grass lawn, also reducing your water usage. In some regions, you receive tax credits or other benefits if you have a synthetic lawn, helping financially too. Find out more about the economic aspects here.
However, artificial turf does get a lot warmer than natural grass, reaching up to 170 degrees Fahrenheit in Las Vegas but this can be accounted for by either lightly watering the turf to keep it cool or by increasing shade over the lawn, reducing the amount of direct light reaching the turf.
Cold Climates:
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Artificial grass can withstand extremely cold climates, as well as arid ones, due to its polyurethane and polyethylene composition. Find out more about the composition of artificial turf here. The rubber or sand infill of the artificial turf decreases the speed at which the lawn freezes over and the infill also compacts together in wind, to stop it from blowing away. Even when the synthetic turf comes into contact with snow, it doesn't become brittle like natural grass and this contact doesn't worsen its condition either. As the underlay is perforated, snow and ice melt can run away, ensuring good drainage.
One negative is that excessive snowfall or freezing could take a longer time to melt away but even so, this is better than having a ruined lawn. Pure dried vacuum salt can be used to prevent freezing, as it isn't harmful to either the people using it or the turf itself.
Airports:​
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Artificial turf has proved increasingly useful in airports in recent years, now installed in airports such as Kuwait International Airport, Istanbul Atatürk International Airport and J.F.K. International Airport. One of these benefits is its lack of need for maintenance, meaning that workers don't need to be around runway or taxiway areas. It is also much easier to spot FOD (Foreign Object Debris), that could cause damage to a plane and also provides a stable surface over which ARFF (Airport Rescue and Firefighting) crews can drive.
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The use of synthetic surfaces also means that this is an environment with nothing to offer birds or other wildlife, so they would stay well clear of the runways. This is hugely beneficial as birds cost the U.S. aviation industry alone $1.2 billion per year. Artificial turfs help to prevent soil erosion caused by jet blast and water run-off, improving the look of the airport. Drainage in airport artificial turf is also very good, at about 60 gallons per sq. foot per hour.
