Drought fuels sales of artificial grass

SOUTH EL MONTE – Southeast Construction Products has long been known as one of Southern California’s largest building materials distributors.

Brick, natural stone, cement products, tools … these have been the company’s bread and butter. But as the state endures its third year of drought, the emphasis has shifted.

Southeast also sell artificial grass made by Pregra. And more and more customers are snapping the stuff up as a means of saving water – and money.

…”The cities are saying, `OK, you can only water two to three days a week,’ but the water company is saying you can only water two days a week,” he said. “And the city of Los Angeles has a rebate program where the water company will pay individuals a dollar per square foot when they put in artificial grass. This is a big thing and we’re only touching the tip of it now.”

“Someone in our city installed some artificial grass on his property about two weeks ago and it looks beautiful,” he said. “You couldn’t tell the difference.”

Mattox said the grass is easy to install.

It comes in rolls,” he said. “You take out your old grass, compact the soil and put down decomposed granite. And we use a filter fabric under the grass that keeps weeds from growing in it. It last about 15 to 20 years.”

Pasadena Star