Why Artificial Grass Beats Traditional Lawn Care

27 Apr Why Artificial Grass Beats Traditional Lawn Care

Real Grass Is Costlier Than It First Appears

More people are investing in artificial grass as advanced technology means it more than ever resembles and behaves like the real thing. Whether for an entire lawn, or just for one or two smaller areas too awkward to cut and tend to, artificial grass is being installed in properties all over the UK.

The perception is that artificial grass may be more expensive than turfing or seeding an area, but in the long-term it’s likely to save money in vastly reduced maintenance. The other huge saving is time – an artificial surface needs very little care compared to the ongoing commitment to establishing and maintaining a traditional lawn.

Traditional Lawn Costs

The costs of maintaining a real grass surface last as long as it’s in existence. Here are the main considerations.

Mowing – the purchase and occasional replacement of a lawn mower and its running costs whether electric or petrol. Large areas of grass may require the expense of a sit on mower type in order to get the grass cutting done in reasonable time, and here four figures expense even for a used model isn’t uncommon.

Fertilisation and weeding – to keep a grassed area looking good it’s almost certainly going to require weeding and fertilisation. Weedkiller and fertilisers are another ongoing expense.

Watering – grass is resilient but in dry periods will require some watering. Running a sprinkler or even filling several watering cans significantly adds to the domestic water bill, especially if it’s a large area of grass.

Replacement – odd parts of the grass may require repair and replacement, whether re-turfing or re-seeding.

Lawn care costs – some people use the services of a gardener or specialist lawn care firm in the interests of using their expertise and to save time in tending to grass. These costs can mount up with companies typically charging from £20 – £50 per month depending on the level of work undertaken.

Overall, a homeowner could easily spend some £6,000 on lawn care over a 10 year period. None of the above costs apply to an artificial surface; most have a lifetime of at least two decades and, apart from the occasional sweep or vacuum, won’t require much time and expense in the form of maintenance.

Usability

Traditional grass can’t be used in certain conditions, such as after prolonged rain and even sometimes after extreme dry spells. If wet grass is used too soon, it can become damaged and require repair and leaves the house vulnerable to mud and water being brought in.

This can be a particular problem with pets – letting dogs out on wet grass can mean muddy paws inside.

Artificial grass, on the other hand, can be used pretty much as soon as the rain stops – or even while it’s raining. Some householders say they’re using their garden far more since installing artificial grass.

Environment

Another perception is that artificial grass may not be the best for the environment due to its method of manufacture. This should be contrasted with the environmental disadvantages of maintaining traditional grass:

• Water – large amounts of water can be used in grass care
• Chemicals – weed killer and fertilisers are powerful chemicals and can easily be washed into drains and eventually our water supply
• Mowing – electricity or petrol engine use increases the householder’s carbon footprint and there’s also the noise pollution aspect of using a powered mower to consider

The General Picture

Overall, it’s clear that there are many ‘hidden costs’ in maintaining traditional grass compared to the negligible expense of looking after an artificial surface once it’s been installed. Factor in the restrictions of real grass in terms of wet weather use and the environmental considerations, and the case for artificial grass is a strong one.

Artificial Grass Installers

Here at Artificial Grass Installers (AGI) we have over 10 years of experience installing artificial grass into many homes across Essex, London, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. For the best artificial grass lawns, look no further than our trusted installers. For a free sample or quote, you can contact us on 020 3633 1505 or 07519 017125