Replacing yard with turf gets mixed reviews

NORTHPORT, Ala. -- Tacky turf, or a green dream? Hal Burleson's yard is getting mixed reviews from the neighbors.

Burleson convinced his wife, Margaret, that it would be a good idea to rip out the grass and replace it with artificial turf, the stuff found on football fields. He was tired of all the yard work and allergy flareups.

"At first, there were a lot of comments about it. Different people thought it was just crazy," Margaret Burleson said. "Some even went to City Hall to try to do something about it.

"But, after it was done, people would compliment it and tell us that it made sense."

The couple got the idea during visits to Las Vegas and Laughlin, Nev., where they saw plenty of homes with fake lawns.

Don Wheat has been laying rugs for 31 years, but this was his first order for truly outdoor carpet.

"I was definitely surprised they wanted to cover the whole yard -- it's real unusual," Wheat said.

The Burlesons said the turf saves them on water and lawn care costs. The mower and edger have been replaced as tools for upkeep.

"We use a leaf blower, or sometimes a heavy duty vacuum cleaner," Hal Burleson said.