Pilot program tests fake turf on home water savings(its not just for Clinton's El Camino anymore)

AP via MercuryNews.com ^ | 2/3/04 | Associated Presstitutes

[Diddle E. Squat]

ANAHEIM, Calif. - The grass may not be greener next door any more. If results of a test are positive, residents here will be encouraged to plant phony grass.

Lush, green, fake lawns could carpet front yards as part of a water conservation test by the city and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.

[Diddle E. Squat]

'Keeping up with the Griswolds' ping...

[Petronski]

Fake beauty through plastics? In LA? Noooooo. Say it ain't so.

[Pikamax]

Actually, I may look into this. save me from going in the hot sun to cut the grass and deal with weeds all the time.

[adam_az]

I wonder how much water the entire astroturf manufacturing process uses. ;)

[Petronski]

It sounds dreadful to me. Only one step from paving ones lawn with asphalt and then painting it green.

Look how purdy!

[No Blue States]

I would be interested in this too, if the price was to drop enough to make it a realistic option.

[Sacajaweau]

I suppose it's an idea but some thought to ecology deserves notice.

Around here, some people put in trees and mulch the entire yard so there IS vegetation without the work AND it's quite appealing to the view.

[freekitty]

You mean there would be no more lawn mowing jobs for illegal immigrants?

[IYAS9YAS]

Question...has anyone heard of or used Zoysia (spelling?) grass? Supposedly can withstand freezing to minus 30 and loves the heat. Water once or twice a year and mow maybe twice. That's the claim anyway. Just looking for someone who knows what it is or has used it. I've been thinking about it.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Just add a few lawn ornaments...

[martin_fierro]

Astrolawn

[ErnBatavia]

Let us know what you learn...I'm curious as to how porous the fake stuff is; if it's not, some homeowners are going to need to do some real exacting yard drainage studies!

[Semper Paratus]

Water that would have gone into the water table will either evaporate on turf or run off to waste water.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Are you sure about that? My understanding is that the new turf is not a carpet, but more of a fine mesh base, to allow for groundwater infiltration.

[elli1]

On the pricey side...I can imagine homeowners returning from vacation to find that thieves have rolled up their grass...

[CobaltBlue]

I am in the process of converting the lawn to other things, like trees, rose beds, herb beds, butterfly beds.

Wouldn't you know it, the next door neighbor was a Lawn Nazi. He cut his grass two or three times a week, in a nice neat criss-cross pattern that gave a plaid effect.

One day he confronted me and asked if what my plans were for the yard. I told him I was going for an English cottage garden effect, and was going to plant more trees and more flowers. Drove him so nuts he sold the house!

He did compliment me on my bulb bed when it was in full bloom. It really was lovely, many different colors, sizes and shapes of tulips and anemones. Looking forward to seeing it bloom again soon (I hope).

[waverna]

Its true, very hearty but turns brown earlier in the season. By early September here in NY my lawn looks dead.

[waverna]

Anyone remember that Bewitched episode?...

[Jack of all Trades]

..AstroLawn costs $6 to $7 a square foot, installed. Real grass costs less than $1 a square foot...

So let's see, that would be about $143K to carpet my little half acre. Right, glad I left my check book at home, or I'd be buying. What planet are these guy on? Real grass costs closer to a penny a square foot than a buck. Even factoring in maintenance costs over 15 years, you probably wouldn't get to 10% of the installation cost of the plastic crap.