© 2018 by El Stubbornatero

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How can you claim to be 'eco-friendly' and install artificial grass?


This is the question we pondered long and hard.  In fact, our Managing Director is an avid gardener and was initially dead set against the idea.  However, he did concede that mowing his lawn is a task that takes him a couple of hours every weekend from April through to November and that he would happily spend that time doing other 'jobs for the weekend' as instructed by Monty Don!  And so we went to work on our research and came up with the pros detailed below.  


1.  Water conservation

Whenever there is talk of a hosepipe ban in the UK most people are asking the same question which is, 'after all of the rainfall we have had, how can that even be possible?'  The reason however, is that our reservoirs can only store a finite amount of the rain that falls and as summer approaches it is inevitable that more water is required in every household.  During the summer months up to 550 litres of water per person per day is used, compared to an average of 250 litres per person per day.  One of the reasons for high use in this country is the amount of water used to keep our gardens green.  Running a hosepipe for just one hour uses 1,000 litres of water!


2.  Save money

You could enjoy up to 70 per cent savings on your water bill if you choose artificial grass.  The cost of laying artificial grass may be more than laying turf, but in just three or four years your water bill savings will show a return on your investment. There is also very little ongoing outlay.  This is in contrast to a natural lawn which can cost several hundred pounds per annum to keep in prime condition. 

3.  Eliminate the need for harmful chemicals

Keeping a natural lawn green and moss-free not only takes dedication, mowing and watering, it also requires using harmful pesticides and herbicides that filter through the soil and drain into the waterways. These chemicals kill, pollute, and pose potential health threats to people, even those who may not even have a lawn.

4.  Throw away the lawnmower

At the end of its life, grass decomposes and returns to the natural cycles.  Fake grass will end up in landfill and rest there harmlessly, eternally.  Surely natural grass wins this argument hands down?  But what about if we consider the carbon emissions of the weekly lawnmower cycle as well as the waste collection?  Consider this over the 15-20 year lifespan of the artificial grass and it is possible the carbon footprint of an artificial lawn is lower than its natural counterpart.   As we would always recommend the addition of natural flora to any garden renovation, this would further assist this point of view.


5.  Safe for children all year round

The substrate beneath an artificial lawn provides a surface able to cushion any blows from falling over or slipping off a garden swing.  Whereas a natural lawn can become extremely hard during periods of drought or frost, an artificial lawn will be consistent all year round.  

6.  Pet friendly

Dogs love artificial grass, as it is soft on their paws. They don’t care that it is easy to clean, nevertheless you will. Artificial grass has a perforated backing so urine flows through it. Solid waste is effortless to pick up and far easier than clearing up from a natural lawn.

7.  A shady solution

It’s common for grass to become brown and moss-covered in shaded areas, such as under a large tree. Real grass needs direct sunlight, whereas artificial grass does not need any sun to stay looking good. An artificial lawn is guaranteed to be green all over, year-round.

8.  Ideal for landlords


9.  Time to relax

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, is it not most important that we spend the precious time we have in the garden relaxing and de-stressing, rather than worrying about having to keep the lawn in check?  Is returning from a holiday abroad not bad enough without the thought of thinking about how long the grass is going to be and how long it is going to take to cut it?  With a pristine artificial lawn to return to you can just concentrate on firing up the BBQ for one last day of relaxation to celebrate your return!