Natural Grass vs Artificial Grass

A lawn is a traditional garden feature, but who says that it has to have the traditional real grass? Artificial grass is a realistic and affordable option, and it could prove to be the better choice for you. Or is natural grass what you should go for? The choice can be tricky, but there are some great advantages to choosing artificial turf. If you’re not sure which one is right for your landscaping, comparing the pros and cons of each should help you to decide. Each option performs differently in different categories, so it’s important to take a close look at your choices. Before you decide how to update your garden, take a look at this guide to comparing natural and artificial grass.

Considering Your Space

When you’re thinking about whether to get either natural or fake grass, start by considering the space where you want to have a lawn or grass area. It might be your back garden, or it could be landscaping around your business. You should consider the purpose of the space, and the practicalities of it. Is it mostly there to look good? Should it be a suitable space to run around? You need to consider who will use the space and what its primary purpose it. It’s also important to ask key questions, such as how much time (or alternatively, money) you have available to dedicate to its upkeep.

Installation

One of the factors to consider when you’re choosing between synthetic grass and natural grass is installing your lawn. Both of them can be installed quickly, so you probably won’t notice a huge difference. While you can grow natural grass from scratch, many people choose to have turf rolled out so that their lawn is ready to go right away. However, before rolling out the turf, you need to prepare the ground. After it’s installed, you’ll have to avoid walking on it for a week or so and spend a lot of time walking on it.

Artificial grass can also be quickly installed, but you won’t need to avoid walking on it. You will still need to prepare the ground, laying out a base layer and applying a weed membrane. You’ll need to join everything up and secure it too. But once it’s done, you can use it right away – and there’s no watering required. Of course, you can use a professional service to install both natural and artificial grass. DD’s Landscaping can lay your synthetic grass in no time.

Durability

The durability of your grass is another essential thing to take into account. For many people, it’s essential to have a lawn that always looks good and lasts a long time. A more durable lawn can save you money and effort. A lot of things can affect the condition of your grass, from the blazing heat of the Australian sun to weeds, pests and children or pets running around on it. As you might suspect, synthetic turf is a lot more durable than natural grass. It’s not so easily trampled and less vulnerable to weeds, pests or fluctuations in temperature, light and moisture. An artificial lawn won’t die in a drought, and it’s less vulnerable to the usual things that damage natural grass.

Imitation grass should last for years and years, and you don’t have to pay anywhere near as much attention to it.

Maintenance

Maintenance is an essential factor to consider if you’re trying to think about which type of grass is right for you. Maintaining your lawn and other grass areas can be time-consuming and expenses. You need to consider how much time and money you have available to care for your grass. Since artificial grass is so durable, it requires very little maintenance compared to natural grass. There’s not a lot of wear and tear, and you won’t have to do much to keep artificial turf looking good. You can easily hose down your grass, especially if you have a dog, and the water will drain off quickly and easily.

Natural grass requires a certain level of maintenance, although it shouldn’t take up all your time. However, if you want to keep it looking pristine, you will at least need to mow it regularly. Other tasks might include weeding and overseeding it when it starts to wear away. If you don’t take care of your grass, it could start to get patchy and discoloured in certain places. Anywhere that gets too much light, too much water or not enough water could suffer. Plus, garden furniture and play equipment will need to be moved around to avoid patchy grass.

The Environment

You might also want to consider the environment when you’re choosing between natural grass and artificial grass. More and more people are thinking about the environment when they make choices for their home or business. Both natural and artificial grass have their pros and cons when it comes to how they impact the environment. Artificial grass can be seen as more eco-friendly because it doesn’t need to be watered, and you don’t need to use any fertilisers, weed killers or pesticides. On the other hand, it can’t be recycled, and many people see artificial grass as bad for local wildlife. While you might be happy to have fewer bugs and critters around, the wider impact might not be so good.

However, natural grass could be seen as bad for the environment, even though it helps to support local wildlife. Natural grass requires water and a lot of it, especially in the summer heat. Running a sprinkler all day is not only going to be bad for the environment, but it’s not great for your water bills either. You might also need to use all kinds of product to keep your lawn looking good, some of which could be harmful to the environment.

Cost

Of course, how much you’re going to end up paying for both the installation and the upkeep of your grass is an important matter. It’s essential to note that installing artificial grass is probably going to cost you more than natural grass. You’ll pay more for the installation and for the artificial turf itself when compared to natural grass. If you grow a new lawn from grass seed, you’ll pay even less.

However, when it comes to the cost of maintenance, you’re likely to pay a lot less to take care of an artificial lawn. You don’t need to have the equipment that a natural grass lawn requires, such as a lawnmower or even a strimmer. You don’t even need anything to water the turf, although it is useful to have a hose for washing it down. Not needing to water your lawn also means lower water bills because you won’t need to use a hose or sprinkler system all the time.

Image

What your grass looks like is also vital to consider. Some people prefer the look of natural grass, while others are happy with artificial grass. One of the advantages of artificial turf is that you can use it anywhere. For example, you could install it on decking or on a balcony, which you couldn’t do so easily with natural grass. Not only does artificial grass look good, but it stays looking good too. If you have a garden that has uneven amounts of light and shade, an artificial lawn makes sense to have if you’re hoping to keep its smart look. Artificial grass can look realistic, and it won’t get out of control and messy like natural grass can.

Pros and Cons

Make your decision easier by comparing the pros and cons of natural grass with those of artificial grass.

Pros of Natural Grass

Good for the environment, helping to encourage natural wildlife and provide oxygen, reducing your carbon footprint.
While maintenance is required, the upkeep of a lawn can be fun and relaxing
Some people prefer the look of natural grass to artificial turf.
Easy to install without too much difficulty – you can do it yourself and even grow your own grass.
Relatively less expensive to install compared to artificial grass.

Cons of Natural Grass

Not as durable as artificial turf – it won’t stand up to high amounts of foot traffic. This might make it unsuitable for children playing, families with dogs, commercial areas or even sports fields.
A lot of time is required to care for natural grass, and it can be expensive. You need equipment and lawn care products to keep everything neat and tidy. You need to spend time weeding, watering, mowing and overseeding.
Natural grass requires a lot of water to keep it healthy, which can drive up your water bills and isn’t great for the environment either.
Can’t be immediately used after installation.

Pros of Synthetic Grass

Little to no maintenance required to keep it looking good – you don’t need to mow it or water it.
Highly durable – can stand up to high foot traffic, rough and tumble from the kids, and dogs tearing around.
It’s ready to go as soon as it’s been installed – no need to wait a week, as with natural grass.
No need for any nasty chemicals for maintenance.
Save money on your water and energy bills, with no need for watering or using lawn care equipment.
Use less water in your garden to benefit the environment.
Install it pretty much anywhere – even inside.
Easily hosed down if you need to wash it.
Looks great and can give you a natural feel without the hassle of caring for it.

Cons of Synthetic Grass

More expensive than natural turf to install.
Not the best option for the environment – can’t be recycled and might discourage local wildlife.
Needs to be replaced eventually – can’t simply be overseeded like a natural lawn.
Some people simply don’t like the look of artificial turf.

Summary

When you’re choosing between natural grass and artificial grass, there are two ways to approach your considerations. The first is by examining the practical issues, such as cost and maintenance. The second is simply personal taste. Some people like the look of artificial grass, while others prefer natural grass. Some would rather have the feel of natural grass under their feet, while others like the look and feel of artificial turf.

Contact DD’s Landscaping About Artificial Grass

If you’re looking for artificial grass, get in touch with DD’s Landscaping. We’ll take care of your artificial grass installation if you have a home or business in Melbourne or anywhere across Victoria. We’re experts in synthetic grass for all situations.

Natural Grass vs Artificial Grass