Artificial grass has many benefits for outdoor areas around the home, including less maintenance, long lifespan, no watering needed, no fertilisers or pesticides, no weeds, and year-round greenery. It has a lot going for it. So, when choosing artificial grass for the home, what kind of things do you need to consider?
Grass Colour
Artificial grass is available in various shades of green, and you should take time to choose the right one. It’s tempting to pick the lushest looking green you can find, but this may well look over the top when it is installed. Many people compare samples to their own lawn or surrounding lawns before making a decision.
Is Artificial Grass Safe?
In the past, there were instances of artificial grass containing potentially harmful levels of lead. This lead tends to come from the crumb rubber used in cushioning, which is often made from recycled tyres. If you were to install an artificial lawn manufactured outside of regulated areas such as the EU, the risk of it containing high lead levels is greater.
Should you or your children feel ill after spending time on an artificial lawn, you can always contact a doctor via the livi website and discuss the possible causes. But if you buy artificial grass from a reputable source, it will contain negligible or zero amounts of lead. It will also contain no pollen, and that’s great for hay fever sufferers.
Latex vs Polyurethane Backed Grass
Artificial grass usually comes with either a latex or polyurethane backing; the layer that holds the grass in place. Latex is fine in a lot of cases, but being a porous material which expands and contracts with heat, it is not so good in hot climates or if you want to avoid lingering pet odours. Dog owners are definitely advised to go with a polyurethane backed grass.
Pile Height
It’s easy to associate high grass with a realistic-looking, healthy lawn, but the higher it is, the easier it will fold and flatten. Thus, go for a height of 25 to 30mm if you like the look of a freshly cut lawn or around 35mm if you want the natural look.
Lawn Usage
Another thing you need to think about when buying artificial grass is how you typically use your lawn. For instance, if you spend a lot of time in the garden, you might consider soft grass with a dense pile and strong fibres with extra resilience.
Alas, the more of these properties you desire (strength/resilience, high pile density, softness), the more costly your artificial lawn is likely to be. A reputable vendor will advise you on this. Artificial grass for ornamental, low-traffic areas will generally be cheaper. Choose your artificial turf carefully, and it will increase the potential of your garden and home!