As a homeowner, you may be considering installing artificial turf in your yard. One of the commonly touted benefits of artificial turf is that it dries faster than natural grass after rain or irrigation. But is this claim really true? Let’s take an in-depth look at whether artificial turf actually dries faster than natural grass.
Key Factors That Affect Drying Time
There are several key factors that influence how quickly turf or grass dries out after getting wet:
- Type of grass or turf
- Thickness of the blades
- Permeability of the surface underneath
- Amount of moisture content
- Weather conditions like temperature, humidity, wind, and sunlight
These factors interact to determine the overall drying rate. Let’s explore how each one impacts natural grass vs. artificial turf.
Type of Grass or Turf
Obviously, there are major differences between natural grass types and artificial turfs. Natural grass includes cool-season grasses like fescue and warm-season varieties like Bermuda. Artificial turf is typically made from polyethylene or polypropylene plastic grass blades. The shape, texture, and materials used in artificial turf blades vary between products and manufacturers.
In general, plastic grass blades are designed to dry quickly. They do not absorb or retain moisture like living plant tissues. However, artificial turf is often infill with materials like crumb rubber or sand for stability. These infill materials can hold some moisture after irrigation or rainfall.
Blade Thickness
Thicker grass blades tend to retain more moisture for longer periods. Thin blades allow water to run off them more quickly. Natural grass blade thickness varies with factors like growth stage, mowing height, and grass type. Fescue grasses generally have thinner blades than Bermuda varieties, for example.
Artificial turf blades are manufactured to a consistent thickness. This is usually thinner than many types of natural grass. But some artificial grass products have plastic blades designed to mimic thick natural grass. So blade thickness alone does not guarantee faster drying for either natural grass or turf.
Surface Permeability
The permeability of the surface under the grass or turf also impacts drying rate. Natural soil allows water to infiltrate downwards away from the grass. Artificial turf is not installed over soil, but instead over a base layer of crushed stone, then a shock pad for cushioning.
Some artificial turf bases are designed to be permeable to enhance drainage. But even permeable bases may not drain as quickly as natural soil in optimal conditions. Poorly draining soil underneath natural grass will slow drying time.
Moisture Content
The amount of moisture in the grass or turf after wetting also plays a key role. Natural grass is composed mostly of water. Depending on climate and growing conditions, grass leaves may contain 15-80% water. Plastic artificial turf blades do not contain or absorb water inherently.
However, moisture can get trapped in the materials under the artificial blades. Natural grass blades can also shed water efficiently if the lawn has sufficient slope and runoff. But substantial moisture may linger in the soil or thatch layer after irrigation or rainfall.
Weather Conditions
Drying rates for both natural grass and artificial turf depend heavily on weather factors:
- Temperature – Warmer air temperatures cause faster evaporation of water.
- Humidity – Damp air resists evaporation. Low humidity enables faster drying.
- Wind – Moving air accelerates removal of moisture through evaporation.
- Sun – Direct sunlight and radiant heat energy speeds evaporation.
Climatic factors influence natural grass and artificial turf in similar ways. But artificial materials like plastic may be more vulnerable to heat damage from intense, direct sunshine. Excessive solar heating could potentially warp or melt the plastic grass blades over time.
Comparative Drying Rates
Now that we’ve reviewed the key factors affecting moisture and drying for grass and turf, let’s examine some actual drying rate comparisons:
Scientific Lab Testing
Controlled scientific lab tests have measured drying rates for various natural grass and artificial turf samples. In a 2021 study from North Carolina State University, researchers evaluated moisture evaporation under constant conditions.
They tested 4 major types of artificial turf and 2 natural grass species. The artificial turf samples dried fully within 1-5 hours. Natural grass took 10-14 hours to dry under the same temperature, airflow, and humidity levels in the lab.
Another lab test by the Sports Turf Research Institute in 1997 found:
- Bermuda grass – Dried in 2.2 hours
- Tall fescue grass – Dried in 5 hours
- Artificial turf – Dried in < 1 hour
These scientific drying time comparisons show that artificial turf dries substantially faster than natural grass under controlled settings. However, lab results may not reflect real-world performance.
Real-World Observation
In real-life landscapes, temperature, sun exposure, drainage, humidity, and evaporation are highly variable. A 2018 study from the University of Tennessee tested drainage rates of turf and grass in the field after simulated rainfall.
Their observations showed:
- Bermuda grass dried in 24-48 hours
- Tall fescue grass dried in 48-96 hours
- Artificial turf dried in 4-6 hours
Similarly, a 2010 study found a high-quality artificial turf field was ready for play about 2 hours after 1 inch of rainfall. Nearby natural grass fields took 24+ hours to fully dry under local weather conditions.
These real-world drying observations confirm that artificial turf dries faster than natural grass in typical outdoor environments. But natural grass drying times still depend heavily on local climate, soil, and maintenance practices.
Anecdotal Experiences
In addition to scientific data, anecdotal experiences shared by homeowners highlight the moisture-related benefits of artificial turf:
- “My artificial turf is dry within 30 minutes even after heavy rain. Our neighbor’s lawn stays wet for over a day.”
- “I can use my turf area right after turning off the sprinklers. My natural grass remains squishy long after irrigation.”
- “Morning dew dries super fast on the turf. But it takes hours to evaporate from my regular lawn.”
These real-world observations match the drying time advantages demonstrated in controlled experiments.
Why Does Artificial Turf Dry Faster?
Based on scientific data and anecdotal evidence, artificial turf clearly dries faster than natural grass under most conditions. But why is that the case?
No Moisture Absorption
Unlike living grass blades, artificial turf does not inherently absorb or contain water. Plastic turf materials are designed to repel and shed water rapidly.
Thinner Blades
Artificial turf blades are often thinner than many natural grass types. Thinner blades hold less surface moisture and promote faster runoff.
Base Permeability
Some artificial turf products are installed over permeable base layers to enhance drainage. Natural soil may absorb runoff and slow drying.
Evaporation
The polymers used in artificial turf tend to evaporate surface moisture quickly when heat and air movement are present.
No Transpiration
Live grass plants give off water vapor through natural transpiration. This atmospheric moisture can linger around natural lawns.
Air Circulation
Artificial turf blades do not impede airflow at ground level as much as dense natural turfgrass. More circulation accelerates evaporation.
Heating
Thesynthetic materials used in artificial turf absorb heat from sunlight more readily. This warmth can speed evaporation.
Caveats About Artificial Turf Drying Claims
While artificial turf does dry faster than natural grass overall, a few caveats are worth noting:
- Poor subsurface drainage can slow artificial turf drying, limiting the advantage over grass.
- Low-quality artificial turf may not dry as fast as optimally maintained, high-end natural grass.
- Excessive infill or inadequate seams between turf panels can hold moisture and reduce drying capacity.
- Natural grass drying rates can be enhanced with practices like aerification and sand topdressing.
- Extremely hot and dry climates can damage some artificial turf types.
For sites with poor drainage, grass varieties adapted to the local environment may dry reasonably fast without irrigation. Installing artificial turf over non-permeable surfaces like concrete may also limit its drainage capacity.
Tips for Faster Drying of Both Turfgrass and Artificial Turf
The following maintenance practices can help accelerate drying for both natural and synthetic turf surfaces:
For Natural Grass
- Improve drainage and infiltration with aeration.
- Reduce thatch buildup through verticutting.
- Apply sand topdressing to reduce moisture at the base.
- Mow regularly at optimal height for grass type.
- Reduce excessive shade from trees and structures.
- Allow maximum air movement and ventilation.
For Artificial Turf
- Ensure permeable base and drainage layers underneath.
- Use minimal infill amounts.
- Groom infill to prevent compaction.
- Choose turf with thin, moisture-shedding blades.
- Maximize airflow and sunlight exposure.
- Clean debris and organic matter from turf periodically.
Proper installation, maintenance, and site selection are key to maximizing drying rates for both natural and synthetic turf. No surface dries instantly, so expect some drying time after moisture exposure.
Conclusion
Based on scientific testing and real-world observations, artificial turf clearly dries faster than natural grass under most conditions. Typical drying times range from 1-6 hours for artificial turf compared to 24-96 hours for natural turfgrass. However, many factors impact the actual drying rates for both materials.
The non-absorbing, moisture-shedding polymer blades used in artificial turf result in rapid runoff and evaporation compared to transpiring live grass plants. But subsurface drainage, weather conditions, installation quality, and maintenance practices also determine how quickly moisture can dissipate from both natural grass and synthetic turf.
While artificial turf may not always dry instantly, it does dry substantially faster than equivalent natural turf areas. This is a significant practical benefit for homeowners and sports field managers aiming to reduce turf downtime after rainfall or irrigation.