Grow with Harvester: Artificial Turf in Colorado

Colorado homeowners are discovering that today’s artificial turf is nothing like the old AstroTurf of the 1970s. Modern turf is built of soft, reinforced polyethylene/polypropylene fibers laid over a cushioned multi-layer base. Unlike first-generation “ChemGrass,” today’s turf looks and feels much more like real grass – with flexible blades, robust infill, and engineered backing to absorb impacts and maximize drainage. In fact, one turf manufacturer notes that high-quality turf systems let water “percolate and flow directly to the base layer” through perforated holes, often draining better than natural grass. Many products now also include UV-resistant and cooling additives to mitigate heat build-up (some “heat-repellent” turfs claim 10–20% cooler surface temperatures). In short, Harvester’s turf installations use top-of-the-line materials that hold color, cushion feet, and manage water much more like a real lawn than the tough AstroTurf of old.

Common concerns about “fake” grass

It’s true that synthetic turf is built from plastic and is different than living green. Homeowners often worry about plastics and chemicals. Artificial turf is petroleum-based and contains additives (like PFAS, UV inhibitors, and sometimes recycled rubber). Studies note that turf can shed tiny plastic or rubber particles with wear and in runoff, and trace contaminants (zinc, PFAS, tire-crumb chemicals) have been found in turf field stormwater. Critics also point out that turf only lasts around 8–10 years and much of it ends up in landfills. It’s fair to say no yard covering is zero-impact – natural lawns need fuel, fertilizer and water, while turf needs manufacturing and eventual disposal.

• Heat: Synthetic turf can get hot. Sources have measured turf at 160–187°F on a warm day. Turf’s plastic fibers trap and hold heat, which means surface runoff water can be much hotter than from a green lawn. This can contribute to an urban “heat island” effect and is why some designers avoid turf in extreme sun without shade. (Harvester often uses lighter-colored infill and plants shade trees to help cool turf areas.)

• Stormwater/runoff: Because turf is installed over a compacted base, it may not soak up water like living soil. Indeed, cities like Los Angeles found that turf “reduces the amount of rainwater that soaks into the ground” and instead increases runoff. L.A. eventually shifted rebates away from turf toward permeable landscaping for this reason. In our installations, we always build a porous base (layers of gravel and sand) and/or add drainage features so rainwater still filters into the ground rather than flooding streets.

• Wildlife habitat: Replacing grass with plastic eliminates roots and flowers. Researchers note the “loss of wildlife habitat” – insects, ground-nesting birds or pollinators – when turf covers natural areas. Harvester’s approach is to strike a balance: we often combine turf areas with native plantings, pollinator gardens, or shrub borders so that yards still support bees, butterflies and birds even if the lawn itself is synthetic.

We don’t dismiss these concerns – they’re real tradeoffs. But it’s also important to weigh them against the full picture of maintaining a natural lawn. Growing an all-natural turfgrass lawn can itself be environmentally taxing: one analysis points out that manicured lawns generally require heavy irrigation plus fertilizers and pesticides. In contrast, an artificial lawn replaces years of fuel-powered mowing and chemical treatments with a mostly one-time manufacturing impact. In a sense, turf trades upfront plastics for years of avoided water and chemicals. For many Colorado families Harvester works with, the balance (especially given our arid climate) tends to favor turf – as long as it’s done right and sensibly sited.

Designing turf to conserve water and time

One of the biggest advantages of turf in Colorado is water conservation. Without grass roots to irrigate, a synthetic lawn uses almost zero supplemental water (aside from occasional rinsing or cooling). According to water-efficiency estimates, a typical 1,800 ft² natural lawn can use over 100,000 gallons per year; replaced with turf it could save roughly 99,000 gallons annually (about a 70% reduction in outdoor water use). In practical terms, that means very low monthly bills and compliance with even strict watering restrictions. In Denver and Boulder, where droughts lead to one- or two-day watering schedules, homeowners with turf often report huge savings. Harvester’s customers appreciate not only lower bills but also the peace of mind that even a long, dry summer won’t brown out their yard.

Along with water savings comes a maintenance-free lifestyle. No more mowing, edging, seeding, or spraying for weeds. As one Colorado turf installer notes, homeowners trading in grass for turf say: “Gone are the days of weekends mowing, edging, and weeding… there is no need for lawn equipment, fertilizers, or pesticides. A quick rinse with a hose or a simple brushing is typically all it takes to keep your artificial grass clean and vibrant”. In other words, turf pays you back in time. That weekly two-hour chore disappears, and even the monthly lawn-care service is no longer needed. Harvester often hears from families that they would gladly exchange the upfront cost of turf for the lifetime of free time and fuel not spent on lawncare.

Synthetic turf also stays green and functional in difficult spots. Think of the narrow shade under a pine tree or along a fence line where grass never grows. Real lawns in deep shade often go brown or sprout moss. Turf, by contrast, doesn’t need photosynthesis – it stays lush green in full sun or full shade. We’ve used turf to transform under-deck courtyards and heavily shaded side yards into usable play areas. Similarly, high-traffic zones (kids’ play areas, patios, sports corners) that turn to mud or bare patches under grass are perfect for turf. In fact, Harvester offers “pet turf” products specifically engineered for dog runs: short, dense fibers with open-weave backing and even anti-odor infillsynlawncolorado.com. These drain quickly and resist staining, so a pet owner’s backyard stays clean without the mud or pests that grass can attract. Turf is also safer for play: it has built-in cushioning and consistent traction, eliminating holes, stumps or sprinkler heads that can trip kids. (Our pet and playground turfs meet ASTM safety standards, and we always stake the edges tight so there are no flaps or wrinkles.)

In short, properly specified turf can conserve water and cut maintenance while serving real needs: green space for families, clean dog runs, and green patches under trees. Many of these benefits are backed up by research – for example, water-efficiency programs note that even if turf is irrigated to cool it occasionally, the overall water use remains much lower than a conventional lawn. And local turf installers point out that a good artificial lawn is “non-toxic, soft underfoot, and free from harsh chemicals” – a welcome environment for kids and pets.

Balancing the environmental tradeoffs honestly

We believe in transparency. Replacing grass with turf involves tradeoffs. On the natural lawn side, remember that keeping grass green in Colorado is a year-round battle: deep watering, frequent reseeding, and chemical treatments. BuildingGreen notes that “most experts believe lawns cover more than 30 million acres” in the U.S., and that maintaining lawns carries serious environmental burdens – irrigation, fertilizer, pesticide use, and regular mowing fuel. Lawns also emit carbon (from soil and lawn equipment) but do provide some carbon capture if well-tended. In contrast, artificial turf’s environmental costs are mostly upfront: plastic manufacturing, transportation, and eventual disposal (Harvester uses high-grade materials designed for long life and recyclability, but some turf will outlast its warranty). For example, one study estimated a single turf field emits hundreds of tons of CO₂-equivalent over its life cycle.

Our view is that neither option is perfect – so we focus on what provides the most net benefit for each property. In many Colorado cases, the choice comes down to water and chemical use. By installing turf, our clients know they are practically eliminating irrigation and 90% of typical lawn chemicals (they just use minimal odor-control rinse for pet areas). That dramatically reduces urban water demand and pollution from runoff fertilizers. On the flip side, we mitigate the plastic aspect by using top-quality turf (often with recycled content) that can actually be recycled by specialty turf recyclers when replaced. We also sometimes use alternative infill materials – such as coated silica sand or organic granules (cork, coconut husk, walnut shells) – which are inert and even eco-friendly, avoiding the crumb rubber every turf once used. In short, we acknowledge that turf is “plastic grass,” but we also point out it avoids tons of fuel and chemicals over its life. When we discuss turf with customers, we encourage them to consider: “Do you value reducing that summer watering and pesticide regimen?” as much as eliminating 15 years of gasoline and herbicides. Many conclude the balance works in turf’s favor, especially given Colorado’s water crisis.

Artificial Turf’s best uses in Colorado yards

From our experience across Denver, Boulder, and mountain towns, artificial turf makes the most sense in areas where grass struggles or where practicality trumps tradition. Good candidates include:

• Small or water-wise yards: In a small urban or suburban lot, swapping even a portion of grass to turf can cut a family’s outdoor water use dramatically. The new Colorado SB5 law (effective 2026) actually restricts non-functional turf in commercial/public spaces, but exempts single-family yards and any turf used for active, “functional” purposes. That tells us turf is still fully acceptable in a home yard – especially if it’s not purely ornamental. Harvester often works with owners who have tiny backyards: we’ll turf the central lawn area (since watering a lawn hose on a small lot is inefficient anyway) and plant native, drought-tolerant landscapes around it.

• Shaded or hard-to-grow spots: North-facing or heavily shaded corners can be a nightmare to keep green. Turf thrives with no sun requirement. We’ve seen customers delight in having a green lawn under their deck or dog kennel where nothing else would grow. Turf also stops the mud under large trees – by specifying a draining base, we avoid root suffocation. As one industry source notes, turf “eliminates muddy edges and erosion” along fences and under trees.

• High-traffic zones and specialty areas: Play areas, patios, pool surrounds and dog runs – these see constant wear. Real grass in Colorado often turns brown or compacted there. With turf, families enjoy a lush green play surface year-round. For pet areas, our pet-grade turf resists digging and dries quickly after dogs, while special infills control odor. In fact, many clients invest in turf precisely for this reason: “our dog won’t have to track mud in the kitchen,” or “the kids can play soccer without tearing up the lawn.” Commercial turf installers similarly report that families find turf “a safe, cushioned surface for playtime” that is durable through our freeze–thaw winters. We guide customers to use turf in the places where it pays for itself: seldom-used ornamental corners can stay natural or xeric, and the rest – where life happens – becomes turf.

• Areas with extreme weather cycles: Colorado sees hot summers, cold winters, and even snow. We only install turf rated for these conditions. Premium turf resists UV fading and stays green through freeze–thaw. In fact, installers marketing to Colorado often tout that high-altitude weather “demands extra durability,” and their turf lasts for 15–20 years. In our practice, we select turf with a UV-stabilized polymer and build a base that sheds snowmelt quickly, so lawns look as good on a April thaw as on a July afternoon.

Overall, our advice is: use turf where it solves a problem. It is not usually necessary (or advisable) to cover an entire lot in turf. But in a dry climate like ours, even turning problematic patches or a high-use lawn into synthetic grass can create a much more sustainable and enjoyable yard.

How Harvester installs artificial turf responsibly

At Harvester, we pride ourselves on thoughtful installation that addresses those common concerns. First and foremost, we pay attention to drainage and base prep. Every turf project includes excavating the site and installing layers of crushed rock, gravel, and sand. This engineered base is graded so rain and snowmelt percolate into the ground rather than run off. We often add a geo-textile weed barrier beneath the gravel to block weeds without impeding water flow. The turf mat itself is perforated, and we secure it tightly so there are no uplifted edges. As one turf industry source describes, a well-made system “is designed to let water percolate and flow directly to the base layer and into the soil” – in practice, many of our turf systems achieve drainage rates comparable to or better than natural lawns. In other words, we don’t just “lay carpet on dirt”; we create a composite lawn that behaves hydrologically like a sponge.

We also carefully choose materials. We avoid cheap turf that contains lead or excess fillers, and we work with suppliers that offer UV-protected, colorfast polyethylene or nylon blends made in North America. For infill, Harvester offers several eco-friendly options. Instead of standard black crumb rubber (which can absorb heat and leach chemicals), we frequently use colored-coated silica sand or proprietary blends (such as zeolite or coconut-infused granules) that reflect sunlight and neutralize odors. Many synthetic grass systems are compatible with organic infills: for example, cork and walnut-shell infill have become popular for their natural thermal properties and sustainability. We match the infill to the use-case – pet areas get antimicrobial ZeoFill, sports areas get shock-absorbent granules, etc.

Finally, Harvester treats the site holistically. If the yard has tight city stormwater rules, we may add a French drain or connect to existing gutters. If turf abuts a garden, we build a small drainage swale to carry any overflow safely. We trim or grade around trees to protect roots, ensuring turf does not strangle trees. In every project, our goal is a turf installation that is long-lasting, safe, and unobtrusive in the ecosystem. We train our crews in best practices (compaction standards, seam alignment, brushing techniques) and review each completed job with the homeowner. This way, we know that when we say a turf yard will last “15 to 20 years,” it truly will, with minimal issues.

If you’re unsure how turf might perform in your landscape, Harvester offers a free consultation. We’ll come to your home, explain the design, show samples of the turf and infill, and work out the cost and logistics. We can even demonstrate a mock-up drain test or soil analysis to allay concerns. Our clients appreciate that we speak from experience as a local Colorado business – we’ve seen firsthand how turf behaves here under sun, snow, and high altitude, and we build in safeguards accordingly.

Ready to grow greener with Harvester? If you’re a Colorado homeowner wondering if synthetic grass is right for your property, let’s talk. We love sharing our local expertise: whether it’s swapping out a shrubby patch for a low-maintenance turf lawn, installing a pet-friendly run, or designing a mixed landscape with turf accents.

Call us or visit our website to arrange a personal consultation. We’ll work with you to identify where turf can really make sense in your yard – and to ensure it’s done responsibly, for your family and for Colorado’s environment. We look forward to helping you create a beautiful, sustainable yard that you can enjoy 365 days a year.