Artificial Grass v Real Grass
As I walk around residential areas one thing I have started to see more and more is artificial grass.
I have even seen builders put artificial grass on the nature strips in front of their show houses. (Can you still call them nature strips with artificial grass?)
Here are my thoughts on how they compare for use in the home:
|
Real Grass |
Artificial Grass |
|
| Installation | To get a good lawn requires good soil preparation whether you are going to use seed or turf. It will initially require heavy watering. | Artificial grass should be laid on a level well compacted gravel bed. Following the laying of the mat a filler of rubber granules is added and brushed in. |
| Cost | Low for seed to high for turf | High |
| First use | Can be a few weeks for turf to months for seed | Immediately |
| Water Use | 10-20L/m2 per week in summer without rain | Zero |
| Maint’nce | Weekly mowing in summer and regular edging | Regular weedkill and monthly raking to keep up appearance |
| Repair | Easy and low cost | Difficult and expensive, particularly if it becomes uneven. |
| Suitability for sport | Ok for garden putting greens | Good for sports such as tennis as it’s resistant to wear |
| Enviro Effects | Helps absorb CO2 | Saves water |
| Look | Seasonal and weather changes also watering dependant | Always green |
| Feel | Soft and cool on feet Neutral to pleasant smell | Soft but Hot in direct sunlight, static can build up, and has rubbery smell* |
| Effect on the House | Will help keep the house cool | No effect |
| Allergies | Can affect hay fever sufferers, especially when mowing | No effect |
* spraying with a weak solution of fabric softener will help with static and smell
As for me….. well my children have grown up and I don’t like mowing lawns so we haven’t got any lawn, just a native garden.
Which do you prefer?
I’m extremely impressed with your writing talents and also with the layout to your weblog. Is that this a paid subject or did you modify it your self? Anyway keep up the excellent quality writing, it is uncommon to see a great blog like this one nowadays..
Everything that appears on this blog is original based on my experience and/or research
Brian