$9,000 can buy you a perfect (plastic) lawn|video

EDMONTON - Every spring when the snow is melting, Nicole Sharp puts out a sign on her front lawn, encouraging people to Feel my grass!

It saves people from knocking on our door, said Sharp, who estimates that between five and 10 people stop every spring day to marvel at her bright green grass compared to the neighbours brown and grey lawns. Many knock with questions. When the spring comes, it is ridiculous how many people stop and look at it.

After all, the grass is fake. Its plastic. Its perpetually bright green, even below the snow, yet never needs to be mowed or watered.

Sharp got her synthetic turf three years ago and is part of a growing wave of people in the Edmonton area choosing perfect plastic over growing grass. When Gary Selanders began his Evergreen Turf business in Edmonton eight years ago, he was busy installing the plastic product at about 15 houses during the summer.

In 2013, he laid down the fake blades at 130 houses. This summer, Selanders and his team of 13 workers expect to install synthetic turf at more than 200 homes and simply cant keep up with demand.

This has really boomed, said Selanders, whose company is the only Alberta dealer for U.S. grass-maker Southwest Greens. Its the only way to go. Its a no-brainer for people to put it in.

No more grass stains on her two sons clothing, Sharp said. No more snow mould or dandelions that set off the seven-year-olds allergies. No more aerating, fertilizing or watering. The Sharps got rid of their gas lawn mower the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that one such lawn mower emits the same amount of air pollution as 11 new cars in one hour and replaced it with a lawn vacuum.

Yes, Sharp vacuums her lawn. She also uses a soft rake to brush away dust and dirt. Otherwise, the maintenance is low, she said, and far lower than when the family had dogs whose urine and digging killed the real grass.

PHOTOS: Grass certainly looks greener on the fake side of the fence

Barry Morgan, facility manager at the Edmonton Humane Society, said hes lobbying for cash to replace even more grassed areas with artificial turf. Currently, the dog daycare pen and exercise areas on the north side of the building are landscaped with dog-specific turf. They look brand-new even after five years of constant pawing, dog tussles and bathroom breaks, Morgan said.

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$9,000 can buy you a perfect (plastic) lawn|video