However, this is a common misconception, as, if you have the right tools, basic lawn care can be a breeze.
At a minimum, real grass requires regular mowing and watering throughout the summer. Lawn care can seem daunting initially, but some people like reaping the rewards of their efforts- it’ s nice to spend time in nature and dedicate labour towards keeping your garden healthy and maintained.
Also, artificial lawns are not completely maintenance free, so don’ t be fooled! They will need brushing to keep leaves and debris off, and power-washing to prevent the build-up of finer sands and silts that sit on the surface and get trapped. It’ s also important to note that, if your artificial lawn breaks, it cannot be fixed with a simple bit of manual labour. It will need fixing by a specialist, whereas turf’ s ability to naturally self-repair means that you’ ve got yourself a low maintenance, long-lasting lawn.
Price Despite the easier maintenance of artificial turf, turning your lawn artificial would have a significantly higher start-up cost. Fake turf itself is much more expensive than real turf. As with all things artificial, you will need to fork out more money if you want it to look somewhat convincing, so why not just sport the natural look?
Contrary to belief, laying an artificial lawn is not just a case of rolling it out on top of your ground, an expensive overhaul will be required. Your old ground will need to dug up, and a layer of membrane added, with sand( which is typically more expensive than soil) and often rubber pellets are added for drainage. This work will all be needed before you can think about laying out the synthetic lawn.
In contrast, most materials used in a natural lawn may already be available in your existing ground, if not, they tend to be more obtainable. Often it may just require a layer of top soil and to be flattened and raked. And then of course, the real turf itself will be much cheaper-
GARDEN DESIGN
the cost per square metre is hugely different, going from a couple of pounds to £ 25 plus and there are also significant costs involved when installing artificial lawns.
Environmental Environmentally, natural grass wins every time. It’ s a no-brainer. Not only can it decompose naturally if it’ s no longer wanted / needed instead of ending up in a landfill like artificial turf, but real grass can make your area greener in more than just appearance:
• Real grass has the added benefit of filtering and purifying our air. Dust, pollen and other debris can get caught in the blades and trapped in the grass, naturally filtering the air.
• Natural turf can also absorb any unwanted pollutants like sulfur dioxide or nitrous oxide from the atmosphere when it converts the co2 into oxygen, storing it in the plant and stopping it from releasing back into our atmosphere.
• Having turf in your garden can also naturally help filter rainwater by slowing down the flow as it travels into the ground and through the root pathways. This reduces the amount of water on the surface of the garden, limiting boggy areas where water pools and instead filtering the water through the ground. This in turn helps the soil retain its structure and stability for a healthier garden.
• Natural lawns are also vital for garden ecosystems, providing essential food and habitat for birds, insects, and other wildlife. Having wildlife in your garden not only promotes increased biodiversity but can offer natural pest control and improved soil health.
Durability Good quality artificial lawns can take a lot of wear and tear, more so than real grass. This is a strong contender for it being the preferred choice. The downside here is that if it does get damaged it would need replacing whereas a natural lawn will repair and recover itself given time.
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