Blog Classic

1. What will the area be used for?

This is the first thing you should consider when deciding whether to invest in artificial grass. If the area is likely to see heavy footfall, with children and family playing on the lawn regularly, it worth looking into super spring grasses as these won’t flatten down after heavy footfall in the same way softer grasses do. If you intend to use the area for sports we recommend a short to mid-range pile height, usually between 18-30mm. We have a wide array of grasses that cater to all levels of footfall. If your lawn is more likely to be used by pets than people, read on…

2. Do you have dogs?

If you have dogs and they use the lawn as a toilet (whether frequently or occasionally) it is imperative that you choose a pet friendly artificial grass. Latex backed grasses do not have sufficient drainage to dispose of pet waste efficiently, leading to a build up of harmful bacteria and toxic ammonia over time. Pet friendly grasses, such as K9Turf and PetTurf, have a specialist quadro-bind backing that allows the entire backing to act as a drainage ‘hole’. It’s worth noting pet friendly grasses work in conjunction with Zeolite infill which causes pet urine to crystallise on contact, preventing any unpleasant smells from escaping until heavy rain or a good hose down washes the waste away.

3. What kind of maintenance is required?

Artificial grass is an investment, that you should reap the benefits of for years to come, but this is only possible with proper maintenance. The maintenance required will depend largely on the type of grass you have chosen for installation. A general rule of thumb for latex backed grasses, is that the longer the pile height – the more maintenance it will require. This is because gravity has a greater impact on longer yarns, causing them to lay down over extended periods of time. To remedy this, you will need to take a stiff bristled broom or mechanical brush and thoroughly brush through the yarns to return them to up-right position. If you have opted for pet friendly grass, this will require a higher level of maintenance, by using bio-enzyme cleaners on the lawn after pets use it at as a toilet, in addition to topping up the Zeolite infill as this depletes over time.

4. How long do you plan to have the site?

As we mentioned above, artificial grass is an investment! Whilst pulling up laid grass and re-installing it elsewhere isn’t unheard of, it’s probably won’t be so easy to sell your house if the lawn is a mudslide. Quality artificial grass should last you at least 10 years of service, the last thing you want is to have your install completed only to move the next year, so how long you plan to own/live at the site is definitely worth taking into consideration.

5. What’s your budget?

With artificial grass, and any other product really, you get what you pay for! If your installation is primarily for decorative purposes, it makes sense to save yourself the money and opt for a cheaper grass. However, if the installation area is somewhere you intend to use frequently for years to come, it’s worth investing in a higher quality grass (which will usually have a greater warranty and guarantee!). We pride ourselves on supplying a wide range of quality artificial grasses suited to all budgets and projects.