In an ideal world we would all have luscious green, natural grass in our gardens and the ability to maintain them to the same standard of neatness all year round. Unfortunately there are many factors which make the reality quite different for many people and that’s why, not just for gardens, investment in artificial grass has become the more alluring option.
There are a great number of benefits to using artificial grass in a variety of situations, not least in places where it’s impossible to grow the real thing.
Artificial grass can come in several different forms all with unique characteristics which determine its price, so before you just go buying any it’s important to understand the kinds that are available and the uses they’re best suited for.
Different types of artificial grass
The main distinguishing factor in different types of artificial grass is the material that’s used to manufacture it. This then will play a part in deciding everything about the product, from the way it looks to its durability and ultimately how much you’ll be paying per roll of it required.
Nylon Artificial Grass
Nylon artificial grass is the strongest type because of the plastic fibres it’s made with. It can withstand the wear and tear of being in frequent use and being exposed to intense periods of heat from the sun, making it incredibly long lasting. It also looks highly authentic, however these merits are what makes it the most expensive type to buy. Another drawback is how its tough texture makes it feel least like real grass to walk on. It’s recommended for smaller, low traffic areas not used for children to play – some homeowners have their own putting greens made from nylon artificial grass.
It is also often blended together with other, more affordable artificial grass types in order to bring its strength properties to more cost effective solutions for larger areas.
Polyethylene Artificial Grass
Polyethylene artificial grass is a common choice for the likes of gardens and sports settings and with good reason. High quality products can endure practically the same physical use and weathering as those made with nylon, only it is much softer to touch and friendlier to the feet. It can closely resemble natural grass in appearance too, with realistic colours woven together so seamlessly you could forget you didn’t spend a summer mowing it to perfection yourself.
One of the top products sold by Laydex is SAGE artificial grass, which offers many of these qualities including being low maintenance and looking just like the genuine article in both its polyethylene flat yarn and polypropylene curly yarn variants. Its 35mm length will provide a soft, silky ground that you won’t have to worry about weakening with the weather or contributing to land pollution. Find out more here.
While polyethylene doesn’t require much upkeep, it still needs to be brushed now and again simply to keep the blades evenly raised. If used for a garden with pets the good news is this grass type is non-porous so won’t retain any unwanted smells from waste, and washes easily too leaving no lasting reminders or unsanitary stains.
Polypropylene Artificial Grass
Polypropylene artificial grass is usually the lowest priced of the main types as it is not made to endure the same degree of wear as the others. It’s another option to consider for small areas that won’t see high amounts of footfall or can even be deployed in fantastically creative ways to decorate indoors.
If you have a balcony, patio, roof terrace or children’s play area you want to radically enhance with artificial grass, Virgo is the way to go. Its 38mm length provides a cushioned surface that’s safe for kids to roll around and take a tumble on, and there’s little to no effort needed to keep it in top condition.
How much does an artificial grass cost?
As mentioned above, the cost depends entirely on the type of artificial grass you choose and how much of it you need. It is priced per roll and these are two or else four square meters wide. You also have to factor in having to potentially pay for a specialist to install the grass, which could be a job that’s much more expensive than the product with the hours of work possibly required.
In any case, even though artificial grass itself costs more than the equivalent amount in real turf, in the long run it will save you an immeasurable amount of time that would’ve been spent tending to a real grass surface and that alone makes it a worthwhile investment for many.
Advantages vs disadvantages of an Artificial Grass
A lot of the pros of using artificial grass will by now already be obvious in this article. But even those we haven’t yet discussed could still outweigh the reasons to leave it the way nature intended.
In fact, nature itself can benefit hugely from going the artificial route. Not only does not having natural grass reduce wastage of water which would have been used on it, it eliminates the use of chemicals like fertilizers which are harmful to the environment.
We’ve talked about the time that’s saved by removing the upkeep of a natural garden, but for those who struggle with mobility having artificial grass genuinely does take away a massive physical burden, or else the recurring cost of a landscaper to do it for them.
If you have young family you might be too familiar with the sight of dirt and mud destroying clean clothes and being trodden into the house after the kids have been playing outside. Remove the real grass and they nor the dog will be digging up the back yard and carrying it onto the newly washed floors again. You can also rest assured their swing sets, slides and trampolines won’t leave patches of different coloured grass where the sun hasn’t been able to reach.
Lastly, perhaps one that isn’t as glaring; if you spend a lot of time away from home through work or even going travelling, an unkempt garden doesn’t just look bad to neighbours, it lets burglars know you aren’t in. An artificial grass garden is one way of not sending that message, and a subtle layer of security for your home.
If you are unsure which is the correct product for you, be sure to get in touch with Laydex today and our technical specialists will be on hand to provide expert guidance and support no matter what the project. Email sales@laydex.ie, call +353 01 6426600 or go to https://laydex.ie/products/building-products/artificial-grass-merchants/sage-35mm/.
