Is It Better To Have Grass Or Turf In Texas?

It's almost a source of pride in Texas. People spend hours upon hours making the aesthetics of their homes look like the most beautiful place they've ever been. Some people just want a nice yard, some want it to look like the botanical gardens.

To do that though, you have to put in a ton of work, time, and money. Now, I'm not saying I'm not for having this beautiful yard with plush grass that's so soft you prefer it over your carpet. I'm just saying there's a lot of drawbacks to it.

Think about things like when it rains or snows. You let your pet outside to do their business, but now you've got cleanup on aisle four in your house. Every...single...time. Same thing with the kids. They go out and trounce in muddy areas, then track it all over your house.

Now, imagine if instead of that beautiful grass and landscaping, you reversed course and just laid down some nice turf. You never have to cut the grass or edge it, the mud essentially goes away, and you have a green yard even in the dead of winter.

It's a tough decision, isn't it? Let's break down whether or not it's better to have grass or turf as your yard.

GRASS

There's no denying that grass, if it's truly grass, will always LOOK better. A well-manicured lawn is something I envy, and while I strive for it, it's never to my liking. When people see plush grass at a house, they're immediately drawn to it.

DECISIONS DECISIONS

One of the things when it comes to grass is deciding which type of grass you want. Now, not all types will survive in certain climates, so you have to take that into account. I'd love to give you recommendations, but depending on where you live in Texas, you could be dealing with a different climate.

Many types of grass work in Texas though, and will give you that plush look and feel you crave. I saw a house on our old block that had some of the most incredible grass it made me jealous. I never did get around to asking what it was.

Regardless, that is one of the most important decisions you'll make when deciding to chase that perfect lawn, so make sure you get it right.

THE POSITIVES

You'll be able to wander around it barefoot, feeling those soft blades of grass between your toes. People will talk about how amazing your yard looks, and ask questions wanting to achieve that perfection you've attained.

You'll have a sense of pride as you work on manicuring it, and it'll be a source of stress relief for you because nothing makes you forget about the negative things in life quite like taking care of your lawn.

THE NEGATIVES

Well, the amount of work that goes into it is one of them. While it can be a prideful thing, it's also something that requires a ton of upkeep. If you're like me, you've got kids that need to be shuttled around to multiple places at multiple times, then the weekend comes and they still have places to go. Time isn't always on your side.

We mentioned the whole mud and elements thing that comes with real grass. Watching it get tracked through your house, creates even more work for you inside. There is nothing I hate more than having to clean up muddy footprints off the floor.

TURF

While some people love the look of turf, some hate it just as much. The beauty of turf though is just like grass, there are numerous options of turf style to choose from. I've seen turf that looks ALMOST like the real thing, not to mention the new hybrids they've been coming up with.

THE POSITIVES

Man, the upkeep on turf is SO much easier than real grass. No need to cut the grass, trim it up, water it, etc. All you need to do is maybe take a soft rake to it and give it a quick clean with a leaf blower. Boom, maintenance is done.

Another win? Your grass is ALWAYS green. Doesn't matter what the weather is like, it'll always feel like spring when you look at your yard. I don't know about you, but I prefer seeing green over brown.

THE NEGATIVES

Ok, so you can't walk around on turf barefoot in the summer. It gets hot, like scalding hot. Even sitting around it you can feel the heat emanating from it. Not to mention you WILL sunburn a lot easier if you sit around turf too long. I would know, I've spent many spring and summer days on turf baseball fields and walking out looking like a tomato.

Remember how I said upkeep on the turf is easier? It is, but here's the problem. If you don't do the upkeep, it's extremely difficult to maintain it looking...and smelling good. You do need to wash your turf, or you'll start getting some funky smells, especially if you have a pet, coming from it when that heat turns on.