Back to Real Grass?

Author: Brian March 20, 2024

The first artificial turf pitch was laid in Rhode Island in 1964, and started to gain attention when the Houston Astro Dome opened in 1966 with

It took another 20 years before an Australian artificial turf sports field was completed

It only seemed to me to get start getting popular in Australia in the 2010’s when artificial grass started to hit the domestic market.

Well with around 10 years experiance I have seen a lot of artificial lawns and I am not a fan.

If you want a high standard finish their is a lot more than just rolling the cheapest product.

If you want a nice flat lawn you need to spend some time on getting a flat stable base.

The base may need to be provided by a softer layer if it is going to be anything but oriental.

Expect to pay between $60 and $100/sq m for a reasonable product and quality installation.

This photograph shows what can go wrong if you ignore maintenance

You may not have to mow it, but you do have to vacuum it.

Otherwise leaves just sit on top.

You still have to weedkill as windblown seed can still form roots and grow.

Unfortunately, artificial grass can trap blood, skin, and animal waste and become a breeding ground for harmful bacteria, like staphylococcus.

If you have pets, you will need water to remove dog urine to keep things more sanitary.

Artificial grass can also be a major source of micro plastics which are considered a major environmental problem.

Two common complaints are;