When it comes to creating the perfect lawn, it’s hard to believe how far artificial grass has come in the last 60 years. With the aid of modern technology, artificial grass is so realistic, we doubt many people can tell the difference!
It's worth noting that when considering options for your home and garden, it's important to remember that artificial grass is not the most eco-friendly choice. Artificial grass is commonly made from petroleum-based materials and requires a significant amount of energy to produce, transport, and install. In contrast, natural grass provides numerous environmental benefits such as supporting animal and plant life and oxygen production. To create a more sustainable living space and reduce your environmental impact, consider exploring eco-conscious flooring options like Tapi's TreadKindly range which features sustainable materials and manufacturing processes for inside your home.
Natural grass is not a consistent colour, so to replicate this, artificial grass uses different shades of green and brown to make it look as real as possible. Generally, the more money you spend, the more realistic the artificial grass will look. The grass colour will have more variation, and these extra strands will make it feel more luxurious and much softer under foot.
Artificial grass is generally available in lengths between 20mm and 40mm. As the length of the ‘turf’ increases, so does the price. The best artificial grass is longer, with a much denser pile, and generally feels softer, more cushioned, and looks more like a freshly watered lawn. All types of artificial grass feel great under bare feet too.
We often get customers asking what surfaces they can lay artificial grass on. The good news is that artificial grass can be laid on almost any surface including soil, stone, concrete, slabs, decking and more. Check out our guide to laying artificial grass to find out what you need to do.
The best thing about looking after artificial grass is that it’s really simple and requires minimal effort. The main benefit is that you don’t have to mow it or break your back constantly pulling out the weeds. Simply sweep away leaves and dirt with a stiff brush once a week. If it’s particularly dirty, gently rinsing it with a hosepipe should do the trick. If you’ve got pets and/or children and are worried about germs, then mixing up some environmentally friendly detergent with warm water and brushing it into the fibres should be all that’s required for your basic artificial grass maintenance.
The short answer is - a long time! The longer answer is - it depends.
Most artificial grass is made from either polyethylene, polypropylene, or nylon. Nylon is much more hard-wearing, and therefore you could go for a longer pile length of 30mm+ without any noticeable effect on expected lifespan. As a rule, the shorter the pile, the longer it will last, and it may also need less maintenance than longer grass, as less debris will get stuck in between the fibres.