Synthetic lawns a cure for SW Florida water restrictions
_BY PETE SKIBA Florida Weekly Correspondent

Area ForeverLawn franchise owner Steve Ciaflone, left, and installation manager, Duane Baldinger show off a roll of Forever- Lawn synthetic grass. Artificial grass saves watering expense yet allows rain to filter through into the aquifer for eventual use as potable water. FLORIDA WEEKLY PHOTO PETE SKIBA

Everyone wants green grass, but with a severe water shortage in the area authorities imposed restrictions on lawn watering.

No water. Brown yards.

One company could have the answer to keeping lawns green without water.

Steve Ciaflone brought ForeverLawn Inc. and its synthetic-grass products to Southwest Florida to beautify yards, sports fields and playgrounds. He didn't forget the need to pamper man's best friend either.

"The technology has gotten so good that this is nothing like the old artificial grass. It is not knitted like your grandmother's old rug," Ciaflone said. "The product really looks good, like a well cut lawn, and is environmentally sound while saving water."

The company also has a special artificial grass for dogs. Called K9Grass, the doggie grass comes with an anti-microbial agent built into the grass blades to fight the bacteria and germs that cause odor.

In the fight to save water, artificial grass not only saves watering expense, it also allows rain, when it comes, to filter through down into the aquifer for eventual use as potable water.

In terms of rainfall, the past 24 months rank as the sixth driest two-year period on record, according to the South Florida Water Management District.

South Florida is still in a severe regional water shortage, and water restrictions remain in place.

ForeverLawn officials said their goal is to help with the water shortage.

The Albuquerque, N.M. based artificial turf company reported saving hundreds of millions of gallons of water for their clients in the past three years.

Snowbirds returning for the official dry season could be strong clients for the company. Spending a few months at their homes here, they leave in the rainy season. Their grass continues to grow, even if it is brown.

Snowbirds have to hire lawn maintenance firms to continue cutting grass all year long, even if they are not here. If a lawn-care company misses a week or two, snowbirds can be fined for not cutting the grass.

As the grass-installing team's leader, Duane Baldinger said the product comes in rolls like carpeting. The K9Grass is usually put in commercial doggie daycare centers or pet spas.

Other types of grass are suitable to residential applications. Installation requires removing some of the dirt from the lot where the grass will be installed and replacing it with stone aggregate.

"The gravel aggregate here in Florida is usually crushed seashells and concrete," Baldinger said. "It keeps all the bugs and fire ants out. It allows for good drainage."

The grass comes in three types. One type, called Select LX, was formulated to strict specifications for the Disney Company.

"Disney wanted a grass that was a little lighter in color," Cianflone said. "It is actually three colors to make it look absolutely real."

Rubbing the artificial turf it is hard to think that the grass blades are fake. The artificial turf has been used on high-rise balconies, on sports fields and playgrounds and around upscale homes.

The material costs from about $4 to $6 a square foot with installation by ForeverLawn's certified installers adding more to the price.

Cianflone has an office at 14561 Daffodil Drive, suite 1905, Fort Myers. He can be reached at (239) 567-9265. The Web site is ForeverLawnInc.com

Lee County's water restrictions:

>>Odd-numbered addresses: Wednesdays and/or Saturdays. Even-numbered addresses: Thursday and/or Sundays >>Approved watering times are between midnight and 8 a.m. >>No watering is allowed any day between 8 a.m. and midnight and never on Mondays, Tuesdays, or Fridays.