Artificial grass can be a great way to spruce up a front yard or turn a back lawn that refuses to grow into a lush field. Artificial grass has been popular for a while, likely because it is low maintenance, easy to maintain, and does not require too much attention.
Artificial grass is also fairly affordable for many people, while landscaping takes time, energy, or money to do properly.
However, even with all the people who adore artificial grass, many people are skeptical or have questions about its effectiveness, appearance, and ability to stay beautiful for years. One of the most common questions about artificial grass focuses on its ability to drain water.
Lawn grass is a special plant because it absorbs lots of water, whether it is rainwater, gutter runoff, or flooding, grass can absorb lots of moisture fairly quickly. Artificial grass, on the other hand, does not always drain the water properly, which results in soggy looking artificial grass, which is not pretty.
Improper water drainage can also cause issues with the artificial grass itself. Disintegration and other issues are common when artificial grass does not drain properly.
If you are wondering about the drainage process of artificial grass or considering purchasing artificial grass for your home, please read to find out all the information there is to know about artificial grass and its drainage process!
Does Artificial Grass Hold Water?
A good artificial grass will not hold water. Sometimes, artificial grass can drain water better than natural grass! It is important to get a good artificial grass brand that can drain properly and allow for water flow. Many artificial kinds of grass have a very porous backing, which allows for the water to slide right through into the soil.
The best artificial grass can drain water at a rate of approximately 1,200 inches per hour, which is enough to handle storms associated with monsoons!
In short, good artificial grass will drain well, great artificial grass will drain better than natural grass, and bad artificial grass might not drain as well.
Does Rainwater Drain Through Artificial Grass?
Yes, rainwater will drain through artificial grass. Artificial grass can drain pretty quickly depending on how high the quality is. Good quality artificial grass drains quickly while high-end artificial grass is known to drain quicker than natural grass.
Any sort of water should be able to drain through a good artificial grass setup, this includes rainwater.
Do You Need Drainage for Artificial Grass?
For most artificial grass setups, you will not need any extra drainage to add it on. If you purchase good quality artificial grass and it is installed properly, you should not have any problems with drainage. Artificial grass has a highly porous backing, which allows water to flow through it easily into the soil.
If you have artificial grass on a hunk of concrete, wooden, or another surface other than soil, you may need to set up a drainage system for the grass because the substance underneath the artificial grass might not be able to absorb the water as the soil would.
5 Artificial Turf Drainage Problems
1. Choose the Wrong Type of Artificial Grass
The number one problem people experience when using artificial grass is that they get the wrong type of artificial grass. Many people think that because it is just artificial grass that they do not need to do their research about it. However, it is very important to research the type of artificial grass you want on your property.
Each type of artificial grass is designed for a specific purpose, so purchasing and installing the wrong kind of artificial grass can end up looking bad and behaving poorly. It can also pose problems with drainage. if you are artificial grass is designed to go on soil but you are using it on concrete, you will likely experience drainage problems.
2. Improper Base Preparation
The second most common problem with artificial grass is when the base underneath the artificial grass is not prepared properly. This can cause holes and spots where the grass begins to sink. even though some of these holes might not be visible once the fake grass has been installed, they can cause problems later on especially when it comes to drainage.
The water can gather in the holes, become a breeding spot for bugs, and can just be gross.
3. Not Protecting Against Weeds
The third most common issue with artificial grass is weeds. Weeds are the most annoying thing on the planet for many people who strive to keep their lawns and gardens pristine.
If you do not apply a weed barrier before installing your artificial grass, you run the risk of allowing weeds to grow through the porous backing of the grass and poke through to the top. You can also install a weed barrier membrane that prevents weeds from growing through the backing.
We can cause drainage problems because they can break up the backing of the artificial grass, causing holes in the artificial grass where water can pool and sit, becoming stagnant and gross.
4. Odor Issues
Another common issue with artificial grass is odor. Pets often use artificial grass as a bathroom, rainwater can pool in holes underneath, and over time, the artificial grass is likely to smell. This can be fixed with an artificial grass deodorizer, which will not harm the appearance or condition of the artificial grass but will kill off odor-causing bacteria and other substances.
5. Not Properly Installing the Edges
Lifting edges is another big problem when it comes to artificial grass. Lifted edges can occur when artificial grass is not properly installed. Not only do they not look good, but they can become a safety hazard if people begin to trip over them. It can also become an issue when it comes to drainage, because water my pool underneath the lifted edge, causing an odor or a breeding ground for bugs.
How Does Artificial Grass Drain Water?
Artificial grass drains water through the backing that the fake blades of grass are connected to. The backing of artificial grass is usually made with a very porous material, which allows for water to drain through it and into the soil or surface below.
It also allows the water to evaporate out, but it does not do this as efficiently as it can drain water down.
How to Install Artificial Grass Drainage?
There are a few different methods to improve the drainage capabilities of your artificial grass. The first method is to install your artificial grass on soil, so the water has so place to drain.
If the fake grass is not installed on the soil, there are some other methods to improve and install drainage assistance. You can create a base of gravel or small stones underneath the fake grass so that the water has a place to flow.
Some good options for base stones are step 1 stones, gravel, rocks smaller than 3/8 of an inch, decomposed granite, and crushed rock.
You can also install a drainage cell underneath the fake grass to improve drainage mechanically. A drainage cell is typically a series of tubes and small pipes that are installed under the artificial grass to help drain it. The pipes have to be manually turned on, but this is a very quick way to get the grass to drain.
What’s the Best Sub-Base for Artificial Grass? 
Most people who work with artificial grass agree that decomposed granite is the best sub-base to use for artificial grass. Another one of the top picks from experts in this field is class II road base, which is sometimes called crushed miscellaneous base or CMB.
Both will make a great sub-base and help with drainage for the coming years.
Can Artificial Grass Lawns Flood?
Yes, artificial grass lawns can flood, despite their ability to drain. This happens the same way the normal grass lawns can flood, the base or soil below the grass (fake or natural,) gets over-saturated with water, causing flooding.
But, this usually only happens when there is an extreme amount of water, like in a hurricane or monsoon where the rains and bodies of water are torrential. It is more frequent with poorly installed or poor-quality artificial grass but can happen to anyone.
How to Fix Artificial Grass Sinking?
You can use a spray designed for deodorizing artificial grass to remove any smells.
Can Artificial Grass Bubble with Water?
Yes, this can occur. It does not happen too often, but it is not impossible. This usually happens in larger areas of fake grass, like school fields.
How Long Does Artificial Grass take to Dry After Rain?
Not really. Artificial grass drains quickly, so a normal rainstorm would not overwhelm it, flood it, or cause it to stay wet longer than natural grass.
Can You Use a Sprinkler on Artificial Grass?
You can use a sprinkler on artificial grass, but it may lead to oversaturation of the base below the grass and increase the levels of wear and tear.
Does Artificial Turf or Natural Grass Drain Better?
Artificial turf usually drains quicker than natural grass, however, this is only if the artificial grass has been installed and maintained well. Otherwise, natural grass is better.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the stigma that artificial grass does not drain well is unfounded. It can drain just as well, if not better than natural grass when installed well. In the end, it is up to the homeowner to decide what they want to do with their lawn, but artificial grass is a great option!
Read our related artificial grass articles:
- Does Artificial Grass Feel Real?
- Is Artificial Grass Slippery When Wet?
- 9 Ways to Clean Your Artificial Grass
- How Long Does Artificial Grass Last? (All You Need to Know)
- 5 Best Artificial Grass Options for Your Backyard
Jamie is the founder of The Backyard Pros. When he was 15 years old he started working at a garden centre helping people buy plants, gardening products, and lawn care products. He has real estate experience and he is a home owner. Jamie loves backyard projects, refinishing furniture, and enjoys sharing his knowledge online.