10 Aug Why Artificial Grass Is Good For Nature
Garden brids need a variety of seeds and insects which are not found on a lawn.
The Environmental Benefits of Artificial Lawns
With no need for water or pesticides, artificial grass is a great nature-friendly option for your garden.
In recent years, the popularity of artificial grass has surged in the UK, with some providers reporting sales increases of 50% year on year. This is largely down to technological advances which have led to significant improvements in the end product, rendering it almost indistinguishable from the real thing.
Despite its many advantages – low maintenance, high durability, to name just two – some people shy away from artificial grass in the belief that, as it’s artificial, it must also be detrimental to nature. However, installing an artificial lawn can actually offer benefits to wildlife and the environment.
Kind to the Environment
Unlike a regular lawn, artificial grass needs very little maintenance to stay looking at its best- and this can be hugely beneficial to the environment.
Real lawns need a lot of love and attention. In particular, they need to be watered regularly in order to maintain their lush, green appearance, and during periods of hot, dry weather this water has to come from a hosepipe. In comparison, all an artificial lawn needs is the removal of leaves and debris and an occasional brushing with a stiff brush. As climate change progresses, extreme weather and droughts are predicted to become more frequent – so anything that helps to save water has to be a good thing!
Aside from using up a significant amount of water, real lawns are often treated with fertilizers and pesticides. During wet weather, these chemicals can run off with the water, causing imbalance to other living systems and in some cases proving toxic to local wildlife populations. With no need for the use of pesticides or fertilizers, artificial grass offers a safer, more eco-friendly alternative.
Develop Your Garden
One of the accusations often levelled at artificial lawns is that they replace a natural habitat for local wildlife. And this does have some truth to it – by its very nature, artificial grass does not provide a suitable home for animals. However, while it is not habitable for animals, neither is it actively harmful. Tests have proven that the antimicrobial components used in many synthetic grasses are safe for both birds and mammals.
And natural lawns are far from a hotbed of thriving wildlife. Despite popular perceptions, very few real lawns are actually wholly ‘natural’, in that very few of the grasses used in UK lawns naturally evolved. And while they do harbour some wildlife (mainly insects), very few animals actually live in them. The majority of lawns are relatively small and so most of the wildlife tends to be found around the borders of the garden. With this in mind, an artificial lawn offers the perfect opportunity to develop your garden into a wildlife haven.
As we mentioned earlier, an artificial lawn is incredibly low maintenance, so rather than spending hours mowing the lawn, digging up weeds, or reseeding bare patches, you can instead concentrate on building a more nature-friendly garden. Try incorporating features such as wild flower areas, bog gardens and bird feeding zones, where animal and plant life can thrive.
So don’t let environmental worries deter you from installing artificial grass. With a bit of care and forethought you can create a stylish garden that offers benefits to the local wildlife and to the wider environment.
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