Sod vs. Artificial Turf: What the NFLPA Just Reminded Everyone - and What It Means for Your Yard

When the NFL Players Association pushed for stronger standards around playing surfaces, they didn’t do it someone suddenly became sentimental about the smell of fresh-cut Bermuda. They were responding to years of injury data and player feedback suggesting that artificial turf is tougher on the body - especially the knees and ankles.

NFL players have been vocal about it. And while we admittedly make our living selling sod, this isn’t just a “grass people prefer grass” argument. There is real research backing up their concerns.

And yes, we sell sod. So if you're thinking “Of course USA Sod would love to see a world with more real grass,” you’re not wrong. But - fortunately for our credibility - the scientific evidence backs the players up.

A large, peer-reviewed review published in Heliyon analyzed injury patterns, surface characteristics, and health risks associated with artificial turf. The authors concluded that abrasions, surface-related injuries, and certain biomechanical risks are more common on artificial turf than on natural grass.
Source: Heliyon – Artificial Turf: Sports, Health and Environmental Impacts

That context matters - not just for professional athletes, but for homeowners deciding between natural grass vs. artificial turf in their own yards.

Let’s break it down.

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Natural Grass vs. Artificial Turf: A Homeowner’s Comparison

This isn’t about stadiums. It’s about backyards, kids, pets, summer heat, maintenance, and long-term comfort.

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Aesthetic Appeal: Living Lawn vs. Plastic Perfection

Natural Grass (Sod)

Natural sod provides texture, depth, and seasonal character that artificial turf simply can’t replicate. Grass looks like it belongs in a yard - because it does.

It also stays significantly cooler. Research from Penn State’s Center for Sports Surface Research found that natural grass surfaces are often 35–55°F cooler than artificial turf under the same sunny conditions.
Source: Penn State Turfgrass Temperature Study (PDF)

A cooler surface isn’t just about comfort - it reduces burn risk for kids and pets and makes outdoor spaces usable during summer.

Artificial Turf

Turf wins on uniformity. Every blade is the same height, same color, same day of the year. That’s either a feature or a bug depending on how you view nature.

A Brigham Young University–led heat study found that synthetic turf can be up to 86.5°F hotter than natural grass in direct sunlight.
Source: BYU Synthetic Turf Heat Study (PDF)

On hot days, turf can exceed 150–170°F, making it unsafe for bare skin, paws, or play.

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Maintenance: Turf Isn’t “Set It and Forget It”

Natural Grass Maintenance

Yes, sod requires mowing, watering, and seasonal fertilization. That’s the traditional tradeoff homeowners have accepted for generations - and modern turf varieties are far more drought-tolerant and resilient than older cultivars.

Routine maintenance keeps a lawn healthy, repairable, and cool.

Artificial Turf Maintenance

Artificial turf doesn’t grow - but it still needs upkeep:

• Regular rinsing (especially with pets)

• Odor control treatments

• Brushing to prevent matting

• Infill replenishment

• Occasional disinfecting

And when turf wears out (typically 8–15 years), it isn’t repaired - it’s replaced.

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Health & Hygiene: Where Artificial Turf Has Real Drawbacks

Natural Grass

Grass benefits from biological processes that help break down contaminants. Soil microbes, UV exposure, and rainfall all contribute to natural sanitation.

Kids can roll in it, and pets can use it without creating long-term hygiene issues.

Artificial Turf

Artificial turf has no biological cleanup system. Germs, pet waste, bodily fluids, bacteria, and spills stay on the turf until you physically clean them off.

Penn State Extension published research showing that Staphylococcus aureus (including MRSA) survives longer on synthetic turf than on natural grass, particularly under warm conditions.
Source: Penn State Extension – Survival of Staphylococcus aureus on Synthetic Turf

A University of Massachusetts Lowell assessment also highlights biological and chemical exposure risks associated with artificial turf, especially in environments used by children.
Source: UMass Lowell – Sports Turf Physical & Biological Hazards (PDF)

For households with pets or kids who spend real time on the lawn, hygiene matters.

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Environmental Impact: Living System vs. Synthetic Surface

Natural grass cools the environment, absorbs carbon dioxide, filters rainwater, and supports soil life.

Artificial turf, by contrast, is petroleum-based, sheds microplastics, and eventually ends up in a landfill.

A 2025 open-access study published in Sustainability compared artificial turf and natural grass across environmental impact, surface temperature, chemical exposure, injury risk, and cost, concluding that natural grass performs better across most health and environmental categories.
Source: Sustainability (MDPI) – Artificial Turf vs. Natural Grass Case Study

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So… Which Is Better for Your Yard?

Here’s the straightforward answer.

Natural Grass (Sod) Is Best If You Want:

• A cooler, safer surface

• Better hygiene for kids and pets

• A lawn that looks and feels natural

• Lower long-term environmental impact

• A surface that heals instead of being replaced

Artificial Turf Makes Sense If You Want:

• A uniform appearance year-round

• No mowing

• A solution for areas where grass simply won’t grow

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Why the NFLPA Debate Matters to Homeowners

When professional athletes - whose careers depend on joint health - push back against artificial turf, it’s worth paying attention.

The science supports them.

And while your backyard isn’t an NFL field, the principles are the same: surface temperature, traction, hygiene, and long-term safety all matter.

If you want the safest, coolest, cleanest, most comfortable surface underfoot, real grass still wins.

(And if you want it delivered and installed by people who work with top-tier, TPI-certified sod farms… well, that’s literally what USA Sod does.)