Grass is almost a no brainer to the Australian backyard, but there is no mandate to say that it has to be a traditional lawn, especially with how well developed and realistic artificial grass looks. It is becoming a more popular choice for busy families who want to enjoy weekends free of garden maintenance.
Depending on what your overall needs and expectations are will determine whether synthetic or real grass is right for you. Each option performs differently and has its pros and cons and before making any significant landscaping changes, read ahead to see 5 reasons why we think installing synthetic grass is a top choice instead of natural grass.
Durability
If you have a busy family or like to entertain outdoors, durability is one of the key aspects to consider. For some people, knowing their outdoor spaces look great all of the time for impromptu visitors goes a long way in their consideration of the type of lawn they install.
Real grass is up against a lot of different conditions from weeds to the hot Australian sun, particularly during the summer months, animals and children running around.
In comparison, synthetic turf can handle a lot more than real grass and is a lot more durable. It has less vulnerability to weeds, is not easily trampled, it handles fluctuations in temperature, moisture and light more easily and is less assailable to pests. One of the many positives about synthetic lawn is that it won’t die in a drought, which parts of Australia are prone to during the sunnier months.
Low Maintenance
Who finds that most weekends mowing their lawns rather than spending time outdoors with the family? While both natural and artificial lawns require some maintenance, there is undeniably less time spent looking after synthetic grass.
Natural grass requires a lot of time spent looking after it to keep it looking neat and tidy. Tasks include weeding, mowing, spraying and edging. A real lawn is affected by too much water, too much light, drought and play equipment or outdoor furniture can leave yellowing patches over the lawn which may require overseeding or long-term care to get it looking green again.
Managing your synthetic lawn is a lot less time consuming because there are fewer maintenance requirements. Given that artificial grass is so durable all that is required is the occasional hose down of your lawn, especially if you have pets, the water drains relatively quickly and easily.
Installation
The ease of installing a lawn can be quite the decider when making a choice between synthetical and natural grass. There isn’t much of a time difference between the two, so you won’t notice a vast difference there unless you decided to grow your natural lawn from scratch rather than rolling our turf. If you do choose to roll out your turf, there is a lot of preparation required beforehand, and then it cannot be walked on for several weeks.
Artificial grass can also be installed quickly and relatively easily – especially if a professional does it. While you will still need to prepare the ground by adding a base layer and a weed membrane, it can be used straight away and won’t need to avoid walking on it, making it quite the desirable choice.
Eco-Friendly
When making choices for homes, you may want to consider the environment and long-term sustainability. Both types of grasses have pros and cons when it comes to how much they impact the environment, so a choice comes down to what eco-friendly things matter more.
Synthetic lawns are great savers of water, and not needing to use pesticides, and weed killers mean fewer poisons are distributed into clean air. The main downfall is that not all synthetic grass can be recycled. While there are more that are becoming recyclable, there is still more development happening in this area.
The main issue with natural grass is that it requires a lot of water, especially during the summer months. Additionally, some of the products used on lawns to keep them looking green and healthy are not only bad for the environment but are not great to breathe in yourself. However, natural grass does support local wildlife and little bugs and critters.
Money Saver
One of the biggest questions we get is synthetic grass cheaper than natural lawn, and the answer to this question is two-fold. While the outlay for installing an artificial lawn is costly, it is essential to note that there are fewer maintenance costs compared to natural lawn. Real grass is definitely cheaper to especially if you grow in from grass seed, where you’ll pay even less.
Either way, long term synthetic lawn will likely be cheaper once you add fuel for mowers, water for lawns and ongoing maintenance of real grass despite the initial outlay for an artificial lawn.
Bonus Reason – Safety
Synthetic grass is relatively safer than real turf, making it a perfectly safe play space for children. Artificial lawn can mean saying goodbye to watery eyes, runny nose and the constant sneezing that comes with grass allergies. This means being able to spend more time outdoors playing rather than avoiding lawns.
It also means not having to spray chemicals to keep those weeds at bay which can not only be harmful to children and animals but also yourself.
Summary
Each individual has different expectations when making a choice between synthetic grass and real grass, and there are two ways to assist in making your final decision. First, examine the practicality and maintenance of your choice, and secondly, it is simply a choice of personal taste. You will either love the look or synthetic grass or you won’t, you will enjoy the feel of it under your feet or find it not to your liking.
If you think synthetic grass might be the right choice for you, get in touch with us, and we will begin working towards making your lawn the envy of the neighbourhood.
0430 308 829