Artificial Grass - A Brief Guide
Artificial grass is gaining in popularity every year, particularly in very arid areas where keeping your lawn looking green and fresh can be difficult and water is expensive. But should you swap your natural lawn for fake?
Here's a brief guide to artificial grass to help you decide.
Spot the difference
A natural lawn is never totally flawless; it has colour variants, different textures and occasional patches of thatch and moss. When choosing artificial grass, ask to see samples and take a selection home with you. Lay the samples out on your lawn; look at the colour and see how the 'grass' feels underfoot. Remember that if your lawn looks too perfect, it will stand out a mile as being a fake.
When fake grass is better than natural
Some gardens are much better suited to fake grass than real. If you have a garden that's heavily shaded by buildings or trees, a real lawn won't thrive. A verdant patch of green on a roof terrace looks lovely, but natural turf will be exposed to damage by sun-scorch in summer, and there will be issues of weight limitations and watering. Artificial grass, by comparison, is much lighter, doesn't need watering and won't fade.
If you have kids and pets, a natural lawn will come in for a real hammering, especially during the summer months, and even the hardiest varieties of real grass will struggle to survive. There are many different grades of artificial grass available to suit your needs, including tough ones specially designed to be hard-wearing and pet-friendly.
If you have a really tiny area of outside space, mowing your grass is just not practical. Fake lawns just require minimal maintenance, and you definitely won't need a lawn mower
Unlike real turf, with a little preparation, you can lay artificial grass on just about any surface, making it much more versatile than the real thing.
Do it yourself
If you have a large area to cover or tricky structures to fit your new grass around, you'd be best advised to use a remodelling specialist for the job of installing your artificial grass, but if the area is small and you're handy, you can do it yourself.
Artificial grass has a 'nap' like fabric or carpet, so you must ensure that it all runs the same way and that the edges are abutted closed before you fix them into their final position. Most artificial grass suppliers will provide you with detailed instructions if you want to lay your new lawn yourself.
Prices
The simple rule when it comes to buying artificial grass is, the larger your budget, the better the quality of product you'll be able to buy. Investment in a good quality product will mean that it lasts too.
Maintenance
Obviously, you won't have to mow your artificial grass but you still need to carry out regular maintenance chores to keep it looking good. Once a week, remove dead leaves, grit and other bits of debris by sweeping with a stiff yard brush, and if practical, a quick vacuuming will remove any residual dust and re-lift the pile.
Weeds or mosses that grow through the backing can be pulled up as you would do with a normal lawn. Pet mess or spills can be removed by washing the grass with warm water and a weak solution of washing-up liquid. Garden nuisances like rabbits or moles won't be attracted to your artificial grass, as it offers no food source for them, and they can't burrow through it.
Environmentally friendly
There's no doubt that artificial grass does have some eco-friendly properties. You don't need to use gallons of water every day during the summer to keep it looking fresh, and there's no need for chemical fertilisers or weed killers. Although you might want to vacuum every now and then, you won't need to use a fuel-guzzling lawn mower.
In conclusion
Artificial turf can be a brilliant solution for your outside space if you don't want the hassle of maintaining a natural lawn. Have a chat with your local supplier, like Australian Lawn Wholesalers, for more information on how artificial grass could work for you.
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