A guide to choosing the best artificial grass for hot climates such as the Phoenix, Arizona heat.
When it comes to choosing the best artificial grass for use in hot climates, you won’t be surprised to know that you should choose a specialised solution.
Not all artificial grass is created the same way and it’s therefore imperative to ensure you’re choosing the right grass to survive the heat.
Our guide to choosing artificial grass for hot climates will focus on grasses that stay cool.
Keep ready to ensure that whether you’re in the Phoenix, Arizona desert, or live in a similar climate, that you can make an informed decision about the best fake grass for you.
Artificial Grass Absorbs Heat
While the advantages are clear, it’s also important to understand that artificial grass does not have the same heat-dissipating properties as natural turf and dirt.
That is when exposed to direct sunlight within hot climates, the ground can get hot.
Extremely hot!
This is due to the fact that artificial turf does not get diffused by the deep, cool soil below the grass surface.
Instead, the heat stays within the plastic turf stack or simply reflects directly onto any surrounding hard, concrete or brick surfaces.
It’s worth noting however, that the heat absorbed by artificial grass is not retained in the same way that for example asphalt roads do.
So by keeping your artificial grass surface covered by a sun-shade, or simply waiting for the sun to set, the ground will cool considerably.
So don’t worry, by choosing the correct types of artificial grass for hot climates and adding a higher level of infill, this heat absorption can be managed.
Best Artificial Grass for the Arizona Heat
When it comes to choosing the best artificial grass to be used in the Arizona heat, it’s a decision you need to get right.
Using artificial grass allows you to keep that natural look and feel, while solving so many of the problems associated with watering and maintenance in the heat.
Not having to water your grass is an obvious advantage of heading down the artificial route, but it only makes sense if you can manage ground temperatures.
According to local studies in the Phoenix, Arizona area, artificial grass can reach temperatures of up to 170 degrees in the summer months.
Is that the type of temperature you want your family or pets exposed to?
On a relatively mild summer’s day, children playing on unshaded artificial grass will be exposed to much higher temperatures. This will open them up to heat rash, heat exhaustion and potentially dehydration.
Not to mention the fact that artificial grass on a small block will reflect the continuously absorbed heat and essentially act as a heater from the outside in.
If this does not sound ideal, and it obviously shouldn’t, then you need to ensure you choose an artificial grass solution that stays as cool as possible and with installation methods to manage the heat.
Artificial Grass that Stays Cool
The technology to keep artificial grass cooler for longer, even in extremely hot climates such as in Arizona, is available.
By choosing the right material, brand and surrounding installations such as shade cloths, you can ensure your family remains comfortable and safe at play.
Starting with materials, the best artificial grass for hot climates has to be polypropylene due to its durability to withstand extreme temperatures.
While nylon may look the most realistic, it just doesn’t offer the same durability and therefore can’t hold up in the heat.
Some further options you have to keep your artificial grass cool include:
- Lighter coloured grass and infill
- Heat reducing rubber infill
- UV resistant polypropylene
- Awnings and shade cloths
- Keep your artificial grass wet.
In hot climates, a combination of lighter-coloured polypropylene grass and heat-resistant infills will keep surface temperatures down.
All in all, there are a number of different options available for artificial grass in hot climates, but it’s worth considering all the points above we mentioned, in regards to managing the heat.