6 Questions About Artificial Grass You Should Be Asking

Artificial grass is notable for needing little maintenance and looking great all year round. As you consider installing artificial grass in your garden, it’s worth becoming familiar with the differences between it and a natural lawn. 

We find that people often ask the following questions before bringing in a landscaper to install artificial grass. 

1. Can artificial grass wear out?

Much like any synthetic material, given enough time, artificial grass can wear out. Manufacturers have given this a great deal of thought as consumers expect their artificial grass to last a long time before needing replacement and products available on the market today typically have warranties long enough to satisfy most homeowners. The MaxGrass Bodiam 40mm Luxury Artificial Grass product, for example, comes with an 8-year warranty.

Whilst this doesn’t guarantee there won’t be signs of wear appearing before this time under normal use, this timescale shows that the material technology used in the product is designed to stand up to many years of use.

The flexibility that one has with artificial grass is that it can, if necessary, be replaced in sections. This is particularly important if certain areas of a garden space see greater footfall than others, which is likely to be the case in most usage scenarios.

2. Can artificial grass be laid on a slope?

Yes, artificial grass can be laid on a slope. In fact, this is a great example of a scenario where artificial grass outperforms natural lawns for several reasons. Firstly, artificial grass is somewhat easier to put in place on a sloped surface. Secondly, the impact on the environment is lessened by using artificial grass on a slope as the water runoff and drainage can be controlled to a greater extent. You can read more about this in our recent article that talks about the environmental benefits of artificial grass.

3. Is artificial grass good for dogs?

Yes, artificial grass is good for dogs and other pets and animals. The main considerations that dog owners have often stem from the ability of the grass to stand up to dog urine and waste and whether artificial grass becomes hot during the Summer months. Artificial grass is perfectly capable of withstanding the chemical effects of contact with animal urine. However, additional cleaning sprays are available that are designed to break down chemicals that remain in the layers of the artificial grass, and these are simply applied with a hose at regular intervals. Dog waste will remain on the surface until disposal as with natural turf. Such chemicals are ideal for ensuring odours don’t develop from animal waste products that remain within the fibres of the layers beneath the visible grass blades.

Artificial grass is no more likely to be hot to the touch of dogs’ paws than natural grass and modern plastic materials used in production dissipate heat effectively.

4. Is artificial grass permeable?

Yes, artificial grass is water-permeable. Drainage is a key consideration for manufacturers and over the years technology has given rise to materials that more effectively allow water to permeate the layers of synthetic grass. This makes artificial grass perfectly suitable for use in the UK where rainfall is frequent. In fact, some sources suggest that artificial grass is more effective at drainage than natural turf. 

Amongst other applications, artificial grass is typically used as a straightforward alternative to natural turf and when doing so a well-draining base should be used. This is key to avoiding flooding and other ‘below the surface’ issues. As with many things, protecting against flooding and puddling relies on good installation practices and ensuring good advice is taken. 

5. Is artificial grass slippery when wet?

Artificial grass can become slippery when wet but is less likely to hold onto water than natural turf. Unlike natural turf which can become waterlogged and retain water, the drainage properties of artificial grass mean rainwater typically permeates the layers and drains away effectively and according to the plans made during installation. This makes artificial grass less likely to remain wet and slippery.

Many people enjoy the fact that after brief spells of rain, artificial grass dries very quickly and won’t become muddy like wet grass, even when there’s footfall immediately after a downpour of rain. This makes artificial grass more usable than natural turf during periods of intermittent rain, something we’re all too familiar with here in Britain.

6. Will artificial grass stop weeds?

Artificial grass is more resistant to weeds than natural turf. However, in some cases, weeds won’t always be stopped by artificial grass, and this is normal. In many cases where airborne seeds are blown around by the wind and moved by wildlife, weeds can arise. Also, users of artificial grass sometimes notice weeds growing out from the sides of an installation, where the artificial grass meets another material. The gap between the artificial lawn and the neighbouring material is enough for weeds to come through.

However, a small amount of maintenance is sufficient to keep weeds at bay. A simple brushing of the artificial grass can disrupt weeds and also enhances the aesthetic of the grass. For weeds that grow out of the edges, weedkillers can be used as normal and the weeds can be pulled in the usual way. In comparison to the maintenance needed to keep weeds at bay with a natural lawn, owners of artificial grass lawns need to do very little in comparison.

The positive environmental impact of not needing to use weedkiller chemicals across a large surface area is one of many reasons why more people turn to artificial lawns for their gardens.