Ditch the lawn equipment for good

Thursday, June 28, 2007

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The artificial turf costs about $10 a square foot compared to about a $1 per square foot for sod. (Slideshow)

Imagine never having to mow or fertilize your yard again.

That's a realty for some homeowners who are ditching their lawn equipment for good.

"A lot of it is becoming popular because of watering issues and pest control and things of that nature, and there's not a lot of maintenance," said Jeff Jennings, president/owner of Turf Pro Synthetics Landscaping in Land O' Lakes.

Jennings said a growing number of people are becoming interested in artificial grass.

Jennings said people now have many options to choose from, like a St. Augustine version and natural turf. He said the synthetic grass is gaining popularity, not only because people are tired of spending their free time mowing, but also because the product is easy to work with.

No More Mowing

A manicured-looking lawn without all the fuss.
E-mail Summer Smith, the TV reporter for this story.

"There's good drainage to it and and percolation, so it's also good for slopes and erosion areas where you can't really get grass to grow, and some shaded spots," Jennings said.

Artificial grass costs about $8-$10 a square foot, where real sod costs around 80 cents to a $1.

But those who have it say it's worth the price.

"I saw my son had a play area for his children, and I thought, "What a great idea,' " Marsha Miller Krawetz of Tampa said.

Jeff Jennings is president and owner of Turf Pro Synthetics Landscaping in Land O' Lakes.

Krawetz of Tampa installed artificial grass in the back of her town home almost five years ago.

"It was muddy and gross, so when I moved here there was no rain and than it constantly rained. So, it was just run over with water and mud and guck and whatever," Krawetz said.

She said the synthetic turf quickly resolved the matter. Now she's able to take her dog Mia outside without worrying about a big mess.

Artificial grass lasts for about 15 years. To clean it, all you need to do is use a broom or blower. You can also use a hose on it.

You can watch this story at your convenience on Bay News 9 on Demand, channel 342 on Bright House Networks digital cable