The Pros and Cons of Synthetic Grass
If you don’t have time for gardening, or you aren’t very green fingered, synthetic grass could be the ideal solution for you.
Not only will it provide you with the lush green lawn you covet, but you can also find ones that actually feel like grass when you walk on it.
But, what are the pros and cons of synthetic grass?
Synthetic grass benefits
If the thought of transforming your tiny patch of utopia into a well-kept space fills you with dread, there are plenty of advantages to using synthetic grass.
Here are just a few:
Ease of use
Once it’s down, there is no need to mow it, weed it or stop moles from digging hills in it. If you want a more manageable outside area, synthetic grass is the way forward!
Water saving benefits
There’s no need to waste precious watering in warmer months. You also don’t have any CO2 emissions from a lawnmower to be concerned about either, as you won’t need one. Nor will you need fertilisers to keep the lawn looking in top condition.
Pet friendly
If you have a dog you can section off an area just for them, and hose it down periodically. And the best bit? They can’t dig it up, they won’t discolour it when they go to the bathroom, nor will it get churned up in the rain and create lots of mud.
Lighter than turf
Looking to make the most of your outside area?
If you have a roof garden but it isn’t sturdy enough to support a turf carpet, or you worry about what to do with the grass clippings once you have trimmed the turf, astro turfing can solve this problem. Its light and long lasting (15-25 years) and never grows.
Pest free
Because it’s an unnatural substance, it won’t play host to bugs, fleas and flies.
Cons of having an artificial lawn
Despite the advantages, there are some inevitable downsides to using synthetic grass. These include, but aren’t limited to:
It’s plastic
There’s an environmental impact to its production and it’s not biodegradable, so when it’s done – it’s heading to landfill!
Expensive to install
On average it will cost you £60-£75 per square metre. If you have an unusually shaped garden expect it to cost more, as you will have to order extra grass to ensure even coverage.
Requires professional installation
If you know what you’re doing, it isn’t too hard to lay, but if you don’t, you can end up with a very cheap, budget looking lawn. You can’t simply lay it down. You need to fully prepare the ground it is being laid on.
It absorbs heat
This isn’t necessarily going to be a cause for concern 365 days a year in the UK, but on those days when the temperature rises, it can get hot under foot. There are options for installing turf with cooling technology, but this will increase the cost.
A different kind of upkeep
Synthetic grass still requires upkeep, impurities naturally run off and are absorbed by natural grass, whereas artificial coverage will require regular spraying and sweeping to keep contaminants at bay.
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Last Updated: November 1st, 2024
