The drought conditions in California have caused residents throughout the state to rethink how they look at and care for their lawns. Not only have they been faced with extremely hot, dry climate conditions that kill the grass and turn their lawns into vast wastelands, they have been faced with severe penalties from both their HOA's as well as the city for a variety of reasons. Artificial turf offered them the ideal answer and also improved the value of their home, by being a long-lasting, beautiful investment opportunity.
Water Restrictions
For the last several years, California has had persistent drought conditions resulting in a dramatic decrease in the amount of usable water from local aquifers and ground water deposits. The heavy snows that normally fall in the mountainous regions of the state that melt slowly during the spring to help replenish the state's dwindling water supply have been few and far between over the last few years. This has resulted in the many cities, as well as the state government, enacting legislation that prevents the unnecessary use of water. Residents face hefty fines if they are caught watering their lawns, washing their vehicles or allowing hoses to run while not in use. It has gotten to the point where neighbors are encouraged to turn in violators in their neighborhood in an attempt to save as much water as possible. Homeowners who are caught violating the new laws can face repeated fines and even time in jail if they disregard the city's notices and tickets. When homeowners began installing artificial turf, many communities realized the viability of converting natural grass to synthetic and actually encouraged residents to explore the options as both a water saving and an economically sound choice.
Homeowner Associations
Local Homeowner's Associations have been forced to rethink their guidelines in an attempt to keep their neighborhoods pristine. In the past, many homeowners were prohibited from using unconventional means to keep their lawns looking green and well-kept. If they were caught violating the HOA guidelines and regulations, they were forced to restore their lawn to a more naturally acceptable state and, in some cases, forced to pay a heavy fine for their violation. Over the years, however, newly enacted legislation puts residents in an unpleasant spot. They would have to either violate their HOA guidelines or face stiff penalties from the state. HOA's were forced to lighten their restrictions if they expected homeowners to remain in compliance. One of the biggest wins for residents was the ability to use artificial turf in their lawns without fear of reprisal or heavy fines.
Options For Maintaining A Beautiful Lawn
Homeowners found they had many options open to them when it came to keeping their lawns beautiful.
While some chose to remove their natural grass and replace it with fully landscaped areas that required minimal water usage, others chose to paint their lawns green with an environmentally safe paint that would not fade or discolor for up to three to six months depending on the color and the amount applied to the lawn.
The most common, as well as the most cost effective is the installation of artificial turf. Artificial turf is ideal for Californians for many reasons far beyond the amount of water it saves on a yearly basis.
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Synthetic turf is environmentally friendly needing no harsh chemicals to maintain it
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It reduces the number of airborne allergens
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Cost effective
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Can last up to 20 years, depending on the brand and amount of traffic
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Improves the value of a homeowner's
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Increases curb appeal
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Will not stain, fade or discolor
Artificial turf offers homeowners the chance to keep their property beautiful without having to deplete the state's precious water supply. Residents also have the ability to spend more time on their hobbies without having to worry about constantly caring for their lawns.
