As arborists and tree lovers we do not recommend synthetic grass/turf installed anywhere near a tree.

While your tree will not die immediately and you may be reassured by your install company that they have never seen a tree die from turf install, it will kill it. 

Healthy trees do not die suddenly because of their stored energy and nutrients. 

Once a tree has a stress event (like synthetic grass installation)  they slowly start to decline. Different trees will respond at different rates. A red oak may last three years before declining while a live oak may last 5-7 years. Each tree and each tree species will respond differently.

How trees are damaged in the install of synthetic grass and why it is bad for tree health:

• The plants and soil around the tree are removed and the area is graded
• This is bad for tree health because a trees fine roots that absorb nutrients and water are removed and damaged
• The ground is compressed and a layer of filler is applied
• This is bad for trees because soil compression suffocates the remaining roots
• Turf is laid out
• During this process harmful chemicals are introduced into the environment
• This is bad for trees because without proper nutrients and water uptake (the roots that were damaged in the first two stages) the tree has no way to process or move these chemicals

How trees are damaged by having synthetic turf around them:

• After synthetic grass/turf is installed, the tree has already entered a stage of stress. Now it will try to survive with limited resources.
• All of its roots are covered with synthetic turf and they are no longer receiving nutrients and have access to limited water. Even if you add additional watering it will not be able to permeate the compressed soil well.
• The increased temperatures that synthetic turf causes scald and lead to even further root death.
• All of the living organic material (tree food) in the soil will die and there will be no way for the tree to uptake any nutrients. The organic material in the soil are also being suffocated.
• The larger support roots and remaining fine nutrient absorbing roots will start to rot and die. As this happens the entire tree begins to become unstable.

 Can you reverse the damage done by synthetic turf?

If you have a tree that has had artificial turf installed and you now want to remove it, or would like to help reverse the tree’s decline you are in for some disconcerting news. Sadly there will be even more damage to the tree and the remaining roots in this process. 

Removing artificial turf is a time consuming and difficult task. In addition to removing the turf there is crushed granite (or other material used to compress soil). If the tree was able, it would have begun to grow fine roots up to the surface to get nutrients and water, these new roots will be growing in the granite and under the turf and when you remove this material it will also remove these new roots.

If you are going to try and remove artificial turf, good on you, but get an certified arborist with Tree Health Care knowledge to help guide you. The tree will need proper watering, fertilizer/soil amendments, and a growth regulator to survive. 

It will take years for the tree to recover.

If you still aren’t dissuaded from installing artificial turf we have a few tips:

• Start turf as far away from the truck as possible, ideally there would be no turf under the canopy.
• Properly mulch the area left under the tree and do not plant other plants.
• Have your tree on a Tree Health Care service plan so your tree will have the best chances of survival.

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we love trees and we love our community! Synthetic turf can make lawn care easy, but it’s important to be aware of the impact artificial grass can have on trees and the living components of your landscape. If you are considering having artificial grass installed, or want to know what impact your synthetic turf is having on your trees, one of our certified arborists would be happy to come out and have a look. Contact us today!