Beat the Heat with Real Turfgrass

The summer of 2025 has been hotter than most. Across Washington and much of the country, communities have endured above-average temperatures, record-breaking humidity, and long stretches of sweltering days. Scientists say this is no fluke: summers are getting hotter. Nearly every U.S. city has warmed since the 1970s, and many now experience two additional weeks of hot summer weather compared to just 50 years ago, according to Climate Central.

With heat trends rising, how you design and maintain the space around your home matters more than ever. One decision many homeowners face is whether to keep their natural turfgrass lawn or switch to artificial turf. While synthetic turf may seem low-maintenance, it comes with several serious drawbacks: trapping heat being one of them.

Turfgrass as Nature’s Cooling System

Real turfgrass provides a natural form of air conditioning. Through a process called evapotranspiration, living grass absorbs heat and releases water vapor, cooling the air around it. The surface temperature of a healthy lawn can be as much as 80 degrees cooler than the surface temperature of synthetic turf on the same summer afternoon, according to temperature readings taken at Brigham Young University. That difference isn’t just about comfort. It can make a yard safer for kids, pets, and anyone enjoying time outdoors.

Artificial turf, on the other hand, absorbs and radiates heat much like asphalt or concrete. On hot days, its surface temperature can soar to levels unsafe for bare feet or paws. Instead of creating a refuge, artificial turf contributes to the heat island effect, an issue already making cities hotter and more uncomfortable.

Safer Play, Healthier Homes

Families often choose turfgrass because it offers more than looks. It’s a safe surface for outdoor play, a natural cushion for activity, and a cooler option for people and pets. Real turf doesn’t just keep surface temperatures down; it also shades and insulates the soil, stabilizes the landscape, and reduces the risk of erosion.

By contrast, artificial turf may shorten the time families actually want to spend outdoors in summer. Once temperatures rise, synthetic grass becomes uncomfortable, even hazardous.

A Climate-Smart Choice

As summers trend hotter, every degree of cooling matters. A lawn of living turf helps reduce surrounding air temperatures, lowers energy demand by cooling the area around the home, and even improves local air quality by trapping dust and releasing oxygen. These benefits stack up in ways artificial turf simply can’t match.

Turfgrass also adapts with proper care. Heat-tolerant varieties, deep watering practices, and overseeding in late summer all strengthen turf for seasonal stress. Unlike synthetic turf, which degrades over time and requires costly replacement, natural lawns can be renewed and improved year after year.

Considerations Before Taking Action

If you’re thinking about tearing out turfgrass for artificial alternatives, pause and consider:

1. What do temperature trends tell you? Summers are getting hotter—how will that affect your yard in 10 years?

   
   

2. Have you tested artificial turf on a hot day? Place your hand, or better yet, your bare foot, on its surface in the afternoon sun. The difference is dramatic.

   
   

3. How do you use your space? Is it for kids, pets, gardening, or quiet relaxation? Will artificial turf enhance or limit that experience?

   
   

4. What are the full benefits of real grass? Cooling, erosion control, air quality, softer play surfaces, and improvements in mood / mental health.

   
   

5. What are the downsides of artificial turf? Extreme surface heat, shorter lifespan, potential environmental concerns, and lost natural cooling.

   
   

Beat the Heat, Naturally

As temperatures trend upward, the choices homeowners and communities make today will shape how comfortable and livable their outdoor spaces feel tomorrow. Real turfgrass offers a cooling, safe, and sustainable advantage over artificial alternatives. Before replacing a lawn with plastic and rubber, weigh the long-term costs against the everyday benefits of living grass. Because when summer heat bears down, nothing beats the refreshing cool of real turfgrass underfoot.

Check out our Lawn Care Playbook to learn how you can prepare your best lawn this fall!