Nothing highlights a garden better than a beautifully-laid and maintained lawn. However, knowing how to choose between real and artificial grass is not always straightforward, so which one is right for you?
In our How to Choose Between Real and Artificial Grass article, we’re going to look at the benefits and disadvantages of both real grass lawns and artificial grass or astroturf. By the end, you should be able to decide which of the two is the better choice for your garden and your lifestyle.
Real grass offers several advantages over astroturf, particularly in regard to the look and feel of the lawn as well as the ecological benefits. Simply put, despite the advances in artificial lawns over the last few decades, nothing feels or smells quite like natural grass. It gives off that light, redolent scent of British summertime and feels great under bare toes – something that astroturf hasn’t managed to emulate yet. Green spaces are good for the soul or, more specifically, for your mental well-being, with the look, feel, and smell making it easy to relax in your own garden.
From an environmental point of view, real grass provides opportunities for biodiversity, being home to various insects, worms, and arachnids, all with an important ecological role to play in the continued health of your garden. While astroturf might be close enough to fool human beings, native creepy-crawlies are less easy to convince.
In terms of cost, real grass is cheaper to install than astroturf, but this does come with a disclaimer. Real grass requires much more care and attention in its upkeep than its artificial equivalent – this means that, while you might save money installing a grass lawn, you will likely spend more than you save on maintenance costs, such as lawnmowers, weed strimmers and so on. There is also the time cost, which is considerably higher than that of astroturf.
There are a variety of pros and cons of garden astroturf, with the biggest advantage being that it is low-maintenance – almost zero-maintenance, in fact. Once laid, you hardly have to care for it at all, which is a significant saving in time and money.
Compared to a natural lawn, astroturf is positively rugged. It doesn’t flood during heavy rainfall, it doesn’t get torn up by visitors’ feet during a garden party or barbecue, and it doesn’t get discoloured by pets looking to relieve themselves. Spillages can be easily cleaned away with a garden hose, or sluiced out with a bucket of warm, soapy water.
In terms of how it looks, the best synthetic grass is almost indistinguishable from the real thing, at least visually. As mentioned above, it doesn’t feel quite right while you also don’t get that distinct smell of fresh grass, but it certainly looks the part, if that’s all that matters.
Of course, all this comes at a cost. Depending on the product, astroturf can be up to five times as expensive as natural grass, which is a considerable lay-out upfront. On the other hand, once you have installed an artificial grass lawn, the future upkeep is practically zero, making it a sound investment for the long-term.
Whether you prefer a real lawn or astroturf for your garden, the team at MK Landscapes can help. We provide garden design and artificial grass installation services across Bromley, Chislehurst and the surrounding area. Call today on 07477 798962 or email michaelquigley118@hotmail.co.uk for a free, no-obligation quote.
If you have the time and the ambition, designing your own garden from scratch can be immensely rewarding. Creating something that is eye-catching, unique, and complements both your home and personality is a hugely satisfying experience
There are few things more satisfying than a garden of one’s own, beautifully designed and carefully laid out.
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