A while back, I helped out with a school project that involved upgrading the local sports field. At first, everyone leaned toward redoing the natural grass. But after comparing long-term costs, maintenance, and usability, we all started to seriously consider synthetic turf—and eventually, that’s exactly what we installed.

If you’re part of a school, council, or sports club in New Zealand trying to decide between real grass and turf, here’s what we learned.

The Maintenance Equation

Let’s start with the obvious: real grass needs a lot of care. That means mowing, watering, fertilising, re-seeding, weed control—you name it. In winter, fields often get boggy or unusable. In summer, the grass dries out and dies.

By contrast, synthetic turf:

• Doesn’t need mowing or watering
  
  

• Drains quickly, even in rainy conditions
  
  

• Stays green and even all year round
  
  

We went from cancelling weekend matches due to weather, to playing in almost any conditions—rain or shine.

Durability Under Foot

One of the main benefits we noticed after switching was consistency. With natural grass, one side of the field was often softer or patchier than the other. The synthetic turf gave a level, reliable surface every time, which made it safer for sports like football, rugby, and hockey.

Modern synthetic fibres are built to withstand thousands of hours of foot traffic. We’re talking multiple classes using it each day, after-school sports, and weekend community events—all on the same surface.

Safety and Performance

There’s a perception that turf might be harder or more injury-prone. But with shock-absorbing underlay and the right infill, synthetic turf can be just as soft—and in some cases, safer—than poorly maintained natural grass.

We installed a turf system with a built-in shock pad, and it’s been fantastic for reducing slips and falls, especially in early morning sessions when the surface is still dewy.

Cost Considerations

Upfront, synthetic turf is definitely more expensive. But once we broke down the costs over a 10-year period, it actually worked out cheaper than maintaining natural grass fields.

Here’s why:

• Lower labour and maintenance costs
  
  

• No watering bills
  
  

• Fewer repairs and reseeding
  
  

• Higher usage (more hours = more value)
  
  

It became a case of investing once for a decade, versus drip-feeding money into patchy grass every year.

All-Weather, All-Year Access

One of the biggest wins was that the synthetic field could be used year-round. No more muddy puddles. No more “field closed” signs. It was especially helpful for PE classes and school sports days that previously depended on weather forecasts.

Community groups also started booking the field more often, which brought in extra revenue for the school.

Real Grass Still Has Its Place

Don’t get me wrong—real grass has a certain charm, and in less intensive settings (like small schools or community parks), it can still be a good option. But if the field gets heavy use, is hard to maintain, or needs to be available year-round, turf is tough to beat.

Environmental Considerations

Water usage, fertiliser runoff, and mower emissions are real issues with natural grass. Turf helps reduce those significantly. That said, it’s important to choose eco-conscious turf options, like recyclable backing and safe infill materials.

We worked with a supplier who recycles worn turf into new products, which gave us added peace of mind.

Final Word

In our case, the move to synthetic turf was a no-brainer. It’s made our school field more accessible, more durable, and more enjoyable for everyone—from students to sports teams to local clubs. If you’re weighing up the choice, don’t just look at cost—consider usability, safety, and sustainability too.