These days, more and more people are opting for fake grass lawns over real grass because it's low-maintenance, eco-friendly, cost-effective and very realistic. It's not uncommon to see a fake lawn in front of a neighbor's home or in their back yard. But you might be surprised at some of the other places where fake grass lawns are "cropping" up.

Fake grass got its start in sports fields and sporting complexes, but today, the applications are virtually endless. One of the more creative ways it's being used is in dog kennels and dog runs. Dogs are unable to dig it up, it drains easily, doesn't hold onto pet odors and doesn't contribute to dirty paw prints; making it the perfect solution for a busy kennel. In some cases, smaller mats of fake grass are being used to housebreak pets. What an inventive idea!

Fake grass is being used in other unusual places including on television and movie sets to create outdoor scenes. It's much more realistic to bring grass indoors to the set then to create a whole set outdoors. Plus, the weather never holds up an indoor shoot. Fake grass is also being used more and more in retail settings. Recently, Neiman Marcus in Scottsdale used it in several of its patio displays; bringing a taste of the great outdoors inside. Another innovative place for fake grass is as a flooring material for rooftop gardens. Now even city dwellers can experience and enjoy a lush, outdoor environment. Recently, 200 New York City taxi cabs sported fake grass on their roofs as part of an advertising effort for a Criss Angel show.

Thanks to its low-cost, versatility and eco-friendly attributes, fake grass is making a big splash in many unusual places. Once thought to just be for sporting venues and the occasional front lawn, the uses for fake grass are only limited by our imagination!