We all love our gardens, and lawns are their defining features which stay centre-stage for many of us. Yet there’s no denying the work needed to keep them looking their glorious best, from regular mowing to edge strimming and weeding.
An alternative to a real-grass lawn is, of course, to lay artificial turf. But will you necessarily fare better with it? Here, we look at the pros and cons of both. Read on for our thoughts on whether or not you should fake it.
Real grass
Starting from scratch? You’ll need to look at how straightforward (or otherwise) it is to lay genuine turf, as well as the price, the long-term maintenance needed, plus environmental impact.
Real turf features and benefits
A real lawn is actually great for the environment, since it provides wildlife with a habitat. It also helps create oxygen, for the immediate surroundings and beyond, while complementing other plants and trees as part of a natural green area. And nothing beats the look and feel of the real thing, especially, for example, when it comes to walking across it barefoot in the warmer months. Additionally, of course, only genuine freshly cut grass has that unique, summer-defining scent.
The good news is that laying a lawn is not that difficult, and can usually be completed within a few days. You’ll need to be sure, though, that you buy the right sort of turf, and be aware that the bulk of the work lies in the soil preparation.
The drawbacks of real turf
While having real turf laid can provide a lush and natural look to your landscape, it requires regular maintenance such as mowing, watering, and fertilising, which can be time-consuming and costly. Additionally, real turf may struggle to thrive in certain climates or soil conditions, leading to patchy or uneven growth.
However, the maintenance of real turf can often be worth it to get a nice green, natural looking lawn. It often becomes easier once is understood what it takes and what can be done as regular maintenance.
Artificial turf
This option suits spaces which experience year-round, significant wear and tear. Laid and cared for properly, a fake lawn can last up to a decade, so artificial grass is robust and durable. It’s also a good option if you’re often away, or age or disability make the upkeep of a real stretch of grass difficult.
Artificial grass features and benefits
If you thought fake grass had to look fake, think again. Modern products are varied, and come in many different colours, piles, densities, yarns, textures and design choices. They look incredibly realistic.
And because the weather doesn’t affect this type of greenery, your lawn will stay looking good whatever the weather. All year round, you can enjoy a bit of your own open space that’s neat and tidy and which looks great at all times, come hail, heatwave, snow or torrential rain. Another benefit is that pets can’t dig it up and spoil it.
You can also look forward to excellent drainage, while artificial grass suits varied settings, plus maintenance is eco-friendly since you’re not putting chemicals on artificial turf, or using petrol-powered lawn mowers. If you have a shady garden, again it could be ideal since it won’t be affected by a lack of sunlight or turn brown and dry-looking. You’ll also no doubt appreciate the lack of mud!
The drawbacks of artificial grass
But, while upkeep is minimal, especially compared to genuine grass, it’s not completely non-existent. You’ll still have to do some occasional sweeping and cleaning. (However, mowing obviously isn’t needed, and you won’t need to use fertiliser.)
At the same time, moss and algae can grow on this product, while bird droppings or pet waste can stain it – but you can easily sort these issues out with household detergent and hot water. So, actually, it’s a pretty hygienic choice; equally, there’s no grass pollen, a common cause of allergies and hay fever.
Turfing advice and services from AS Landscapes
At AS Landscapes, we’re perfectly placed to advise you on turfing for your own garden. After all, we’ve been offering expert advice in Surrey, Ascot and Windsor and surrounding areas for years. Whether to have fake or real turf is a personal decision depending on your own circumstances – but we can help you make the best decision.
We can lay real or artificial turf in your garden no matter its size, providing quality guidance every step of the way, from initial contact to ongoing maintenance and after-care. Contact us today for a bespoke quote, or pop into our landscaping show garden, where we’ll gladly answer your questions.