Synthetic or artificial grass is an alternative to natural grass and it does not have the drawbacks of the natural product. The main drawback of the artificial solution is the initial cost of buying and installing it, but you should not be put off by this as there will be a gradual payback of this initial outlay. Once installed there will be no lawn feed, fertiliser, water, reseeding or lawnmower to be bought and a good deal of time saved.

As with most things in life, there is a proven link between cost and quality, quality and longevity. Artificial grass can cost between £50 and £80 per square metre to have it supplied and installed, but in general terms you will get what you pay for.  Badly installed, poor quality product will always look like a badly installed poor quality artificial lawn. On the other hand, a good quality, professionally installed area of synthetic grass will deliver a range of benefits to the owner as well as the comfort afforded by a warranty of around 5 to 10 years depending on the supplier and the quality of the product.

Artificial grass requires much less maintenance than the natural version. There will be no need for cutting, weeding, feeding and scarifying to removing moss or watering to preserve the lawn during dry spells in the weather. Lawn feed products and water both require cash outlay and therefore doing away with the need for these can be viewed as cost saving while the time saved by taking away the requirement to continually maintain you lawn can be an added benefit. It is also worth bearing in mind that elderly, infirm or disabled people may find the regular maintenance of natural grass to be somewhere between difficult and impossible for them to undertake. This may mean them needing the additional expense of using the services of a gardener.

Artificial grass, properly installed, needs very little maintenance. The area can be swept clean with a brush or cleared of debris such as dead leaves by using a garden vac and washed down occasionally using a proprietary cleaning agent and garden hose. Garden vacs are particularly good for bringing the strands of synthetic grass back to the upright position, or you can use a stiff brush to tease the strands upright. There are drain holes in the synthetic grass to prevent pooling of water on the surface and it is important that occasional sweeping is done to stop debris from clogging these drain holes.

Pet owners may need to be slightly more diligent. Although unlike natural grass, synthetic grass does not discolour or stain due to dog or cat pee, constant use as a pet toilet may result in unpleasant odours. It is therefore important to clean the area regularly using a proprietary synthetic grass cleaner. Pet owners may also encounter problems with pet hair clogging drainage holes so again, it is important to brush or vacuum regularly to keep the area looking as clean and tidy as possible.

Sunny summer afternoons spent in the garden, enjoying BBQ’s and relaxing family time outdoors may be enjoyed by many of us, but not by those who suffer from hay fever. The regular cutting required by natural grass releases large quantities of grass pollen which is being recognised as one of the main causes of seasonal allergies, affecting the vast majority of hay fever sufferers. Synthetic grass on the other hand, does not affect hay fever sufferers as it contains no grass pollen, therefore hay fever sufferers can enjoy sitting out on artificial grass without fear of it triggering their hay fever.

Natural grass can become untidy very quickly if not cut and tended to regularly, which can be a problem for people who are regularly absent from their properties. People who holiday regularly or for a few months rather than a few weeks at a time will either risk coming home to an unkempt, untidy lawn or face the expense of bringing someone in to tend to their grass while they are away. Those who regularly work away from home could be similarly affected.

Grass cutting can also be a problem area for landlords and their tenants unless there is a property management company looking after the property with responsibility for grass cutting. It will otherwise often fall to the tenant to make sure the grass is kept tidy. Using synthetic grass takes away the need for regular cutting, making life easier for both landlord and tenant.

Artificial or synthetic grass has a number of very real practical benefits over natural grass and good quality products are more similar in appearance to natural grass. It is low maintenance, which in turn means lower maintenance costs. The biggest drawback is the high cost of buying and installing the synthetic product although the low maintenance costs help to defray that cost over a period. For larger areas a professional installation would be recommended to help to ensure that the product delivers maximum benefit over a longer period.

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