Tucson homeowners like their fake grass

A few weeks ago the Arizona Daily Star ran an article about the growing popularity of artificial grass with Tucson homeowners. Though the price can be expensive, many homeowners are incorporating small areas of synthetic grass into their landscape because it's easy to maintain and requires no watering.

If you're not familiar with Tucson or the rest of the Southwestern United States, you might be surprised to find that we don't have lush green lawns like homeowners in the Midwest or East Coast. The brutally hot sun and lack of water make it practically impossible to have real grass in Tucson. That's why homeowners in the desert Southwest generally use gravel and drought tolerant plants in their landscape. It's easy to maintain; just lead drip lines to your plants and turn on the timer. Incorporating artificial grass can add to the aesthetic appeal and make a desert yard more interesting. And, dogs love to roll around in it! It's pricey to have it installed; prices run between $7-10 per square foot depending on the type of grass you choose. Most types of synthetic grass last about 15 years, and the only maintenance required is spraying it off with a water hose. Make sure you really check out different variations; I've noticed some that look like the old fashioned "astro turf" and others that look like real grass. It's better to spend a little more and be happy with the end result.