Increasingly popular, many homeowners and businesses are making the switch to artificial grass. Artificial grass is predominantly used outdoors, with a specialised design that makes it great at withstanding rain and other sources of moisture. This fuss-free and low maintenance alternative to natural turf has changed the gardening game, it doesn’t require watering or mowing, and it is suitable for children and pets.
When it comes to Artificial Grass, there's so many things you may not know. We have compiled some interesting facts about artificial turf, and its suitability across home and commercial premises. From draw-dropping facts to simply amazing benefits...
Drought tolerant, sustainable and evergreen, synthetic grass is sprouting up (horrible pun, we know) everywhere. Low maintenance and return on investment are a huge draw for consumers. There are a few things you may be unaware of though, it's about time you got educated on our 5 surprising things you may not know about Artificial Grass!
1. Artificial Grass is Made Just Like Carpet
This one surprises for a couple of reasons. Artificial grass is made very similar to carpet. If you think about it, artificial grass is really a type of outdoor carpet that lets water drain through.
If you have purchased some before you probably noticed it is described with carpet terminology. “Pile Height” refers to the length of the blade from the backing to the surface. Like carpets there are different pile heights and weights available, to suit the application for your new artificial turf. Short dense file heights are great for a more professional look, in high footfall areas such as showrooms and golf ranges. Whereas, longer pile heights provide a plush and luxurious feel, with more cushioning underfoot for play areas and gardens.
Synthetic grass “yarn” is made up of plastic polymers, in fact, a lot of it is produced in carpet factories because of its similarities to carpet. These synthetic fibres also mean most artificial grass is naturally hypoallergenic, so you don’t have to worry about hay-fever, simply relax and enjoy your garden all year round.
2. It's More Popular Than You Think
While the trend is still growing in the US, artificial grass is all the rage here in the UK. A recent survey of 1,000 homeowners yielded some surprising results. More than one in four said they have traded traditional lawns for fake grass. What does that mean? Those lush green garden areas the British cultivate? They are fake. Well, at least 25% of them are. What’s even more surprising is the reason for the switch. Yard maintenance. It topped the list. Most of them said they simply do not have time to mow grass anymore - Can you blame them?
High quality artificial turf, such as that sold by Grass Warehouse, can last a long time, so you can continue to enjoy all the time saved for many years. Plus, over that entire time period it will stay looking just as lush as a natural, green lawn. You won’t need to spend hours mowing, watering, or putting down fertiliser. With all the money you will save, your new grass will eventually pay for itself and more!
Aside from the excellent low maintenance properties, Customers love artificial grass as it maximises their garden space. Having a patio or decking fitted in the garden often means sacrificing some, if not all of the space. Artificial grass can be installed over your decking, or soil, allowing you to enjoy all of your garden and providing more space for your children and pets to safely run around.
3. There's So Many Options
Gone are the days where ‘fake’ meant unrealistic. High quality, modern artificial grass looks almost indistinguishable from the real thing. Developments in technologies and manufacturing processes mean that when it comes to choosing your artificial turf, there are so many options to choose from.
Artificial grass and installation comes in different varieties: in-fill, non in-fill, sports and hybrid.
- In-fill grasses have a material added to the top to weigh the grass down and keep the pile vertical.
- Non in-fill grasses do not need material added to the top and are pinned down.
- Sports grass is generally longer and has an additional performance in-fill to support players running around. (These are known as 3G or 4G pitches just to categorise them even more!)
- Hybrid grass is a mixture of real grass that has fake grass stitched into it.
4. You've Seen It More Than You May Think
Artificial grass is very common in US stadiums where NFL games are played, but it is also common at UK football grounds, with most of the top premier league clubs playing on grounds with artificial grass present.
That said, artificial turf is not just for football clubs, it can often be found in golf ranges, play centres, dog centres, showrooms… just about anywhere really! This grass is truly versatile - it can be used both indoors and outdoors, across residential and commercial settings.
You may have also seen that the grass isn’t always green! With artificial grass, your imagination is the limit. If you want a bright and wacky floor, there is nothing stopping you. Artificial grass in a number of colours, from orange to blue and purple. Vibrant grasses are excellent for creating a fun and playful environment, which works great in play centres and kids bedrooms.
5. It is environmentally friendly
Although artificial grass is constructed from synthetic materials, there are many ways that it is more eco-friendly than its natural counterpart. We have already covered how the lower maintenance requirements of artificial turf can save you time, but have you thought about how that is better for the environment?
Homeowners with natural grass know the struggle of trying to keep it green, you spend hours and hundreds of pounds a year on watering it, putting down grass seeds and fertilisers, all for it to ultimately end up patchy. The beauty of artificial grass is it doesn’t need any of these things. Your artificial turf will stay pristine all year round with less water used, and no chemicals entering the eco-system, also providing a much safer environment for your children and pets to play.
As you can see there are many surprising ways that artificial grass is better than natural turf, so why not make the switch?
Conclusion
We hope this article has taught you something new about artificial grass, if not, then perhaps reinforced why artificial turf truly is the way forward.
If you want to learn more about artificial grass then take a look at some of our other interesting blogs, or perhaps talk to one of our knowledgeable team!
We are happy to answer any questions you may have and are hopeful you’ll consider us as your choice for high quality artificial grass.
