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.
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We find that people often ask the following questions before bringing in a landscaper to install artificial grass.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
One of the main criteria to take into account when choosing your artificial grass is the height of the blades. Artificial grass comes in all sizes, which will influence the desired result. The shorter the strand, the more resilient your lawn will be (ability of the strand to remain straight despite trampling). The taller your artificial lawn, the denser, thicker and more voluminous it will look.
Secondly, a short grass blade (between 20 and 25 mm) will require very little maintenance: generally, an annual brushing will suffice to restore it to its former glory. Nevertheless, the comfort of your artificial grass will not be the most important criterion for these models.
If you opt for a medium bristle (between 30 and 40 mm), this height is perfectly suited to many landscaping projects. It ensures that artificial grass is dense and comfortable enough to enjoy your artificial lawn all year round. The average blade height of artificial grass requires brushing once or twice a year, or whenever you feel brushing is necessary.
Finally, a long strand height of between 40 and 50 mm is perfect for a magnificent meadow-effect lawn. The comfort of 50 mm artificial grass is incomparable, and its realism is breathtaking ! This ornamental artificial turf is also suitable for a wide range of projects, and is very comfortable, so your children or pets will be delighted. At this height of blade, you'll need to brush your lawn a little more regularly, between 2 and 3 times a year, depending on how often it's trampled.
When choosing the thickness of your artificial turf, you need to ask yourself a number of questions : Do you want a rather dense or rather short artificial grass ? Will it be heavily trampled or is it purely an aesthetic, ornamental project ? Do you want your artificial grass to be comfortable to walk on, or do you want it to be virtually maintenance-free ?
Next, the thickness of artificial grass also depends on the height of the blades of your fake lawn, the number of tufts per m2 and the weight of the thread. The higher the number of tufts, the thicker and denser your artificial grass will be. Conversely, the lower the density, the shorter and thinner your artificial grass will look.
Short artificial grass is ideal for small surfaces such as balconies, or for landscaping where you want to minimize maintenance. For greater comfort and realism, we recommend strand heights of 30 mm and above, which combine comfort, softness and resilience.
You can then choose the color of your future lawn. Do you want a light green or a dark green faux grass ? Do you prefer the realism of your artificial grass or its price ?
Finally, the warranty on synthetic turf can vary depending on the model. At Exelgreen, our UV warranties range from 6, 8 to 10 years. The good news is that artificial turf generally lasts around 15 years, making it a very attractive, economical and long-lasting covering.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of 40mm Artificial Grass. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
If you're on the lookout for a bargain, you'll love our artificial grass stockists. Bear in mind, however, that these are often thinner synthetic grasses with slightly finer strands. Often very soft, they are suitable for a wide range of projects, but require a little more regular brushing.
As you can see, artificial grass has many advantages, including ease of maintenance. You don't need to water your artificial grass unless you want to dust it thoroughly or cool it slightly in hot weather. Like all outdoor coverings, your lawn will heat up slightly in the sun, but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy it. You can also simply wait for rain to save on water consumption. If you still want to water your artificial grass, be sure to use a low-pressure jet to avoid damaging the blades.
What's more, in the event of an everyday accident such as a spilt glass of soda, a little soapy water on the area will do the trick. Child's play ! For a more stubborn stain, be sure to clean the area by removing the excess first and then cleaning with soapy water or a little white vinegar. Avoid using any chemical or toxic products that could damage your artificial grass. We strongly advise against using a barbecue on your artificial lawn.
Accidents caused by burning the blades are permanent and can damage your artificial grass. If you need to repair a small damaged area, cut one of your artificial grass logs to the exact dimensions of the area and secure it with a pre-glued joining strip. Then apply strong pressure and brush the strands in the opposite direction.
Our artificial lawns are perfectly suited to your needs and are safe for your children and pets. During production, Exelgreen artificial turf undergoes numerous tests, including a strand pull test.
The differences between artificial lawns can also come from their country of production. Indeed, there are many manufacturers on the artificial turf market, and the quality of fake lawns can vary according to the materials used in their design.
We use both polypropylene and polyethylene in the design of our lawns, and our factories are equipped with the latest state-of-the-art technology for artificial grass assembly, such as the tufting method, which consists of sewing the strands onto the base of the lawn for an even more natural result. Our lawns are tested in an independent laboratory to comply with current regulations and to test the quality of our artificial grass. What's more, they've also been designed to drain rainwater to prevent any unwanted stagnation !
Last but not least, our artificial grass comes in a variety of shapes and colors. Slightly curved strands, for example, will give your artificial grass the impression of a very natural lawn. The combination of different strand shapes accentuates their realism, as does 3D yarn technology. Curly wires, on the other hand, perfectly reproduce the earthy base of a classic natural lawn.
When laying your artificial grass, it's important to cut it to the exact dimensions of your surface, so that the joints are virtually invisible.
It's easy to get the perfect fit. Simply use a cutter and refer to the cutting lines on the back of your artificial grass.
Before fixing your artificial grass to the ground, test the joints, cut your artificial grass to size and then fix it.
For virtually invisible joints, you can use pre-glued joint strips or resin with a blank strip.
On hard floors, you have several choices. For a solid but removable fixing, use double-sided tape, fixing patches or screw your fake lawn to the ground. All fixings are to be placed every metre around the perimeter of your lawn.
For a strong, permanent hold, use resin. The 5 kg pot of resin will enable you to fix it over 20 linear meters. Mix the two components and apply with the spatula provided.
On soft ground, don't forget to apply geotextile to protect your fake grass from unwanted weed growth. Then use pre-glued joint strips to join the strips together, followed by fastening grapples all around the perimeter. Galvanized staples can be used for smaller surfaces.
Don't forget to take into account the direction of laying, which is very important for a natural look. Artificial grass should be laid in the same direction and unrolled in the direction of your main viewpoint. (The flattened strands will then face you).
Finally, brush your artificial lawn in the opposite direction to the way it was laid, and enjoy your new living space !
To sum up, artificial grass to green your outdoor spaces is a good idea if you want a durable, solid, aesthetic and economical covering. You can say goodbye to all the chores of gardening, such as watering, mowing and using chemical fertilizers, and keep your lawn looking beautiful. You don't have to wait for natural grass to grow before you can use it, and it's easy to install artificial grass yourself.
Maintaining your artificial lawn is equally simple, saving you time and energy ! All you need to do is brush your artificial lawn with a stiff broom whenever you feel it's necessary, usually once or twice a year.
Artificial grass can be laid on many surfaces, including balconies, terraces, gardens, etc., and you can order the quantity of m2 you need to the nearest ten centimetres !
Artificial grass can withstand a wide range of climates, from heat to heavy rain, so there's no risk of the blades drying out like natural grass in summer. Say goodbye to allergies linked to pollen or natural plants. Resistant, you'll be able to keep it for many years despite frequent use.
Last but not least, artificial grass is the ideal partner for creating real living spaces that are both comfortable and trendy !
There's absolutely no need to call in a landscape professional to install your artificial lawn. If the project seems too difficult, we can put you in touch with trusted professionals with whom we've been working for many years. To install your artificial turf successfully, whatever its thickness, all you need to do is follow a few simple steps. All our artificial grass products must be installed on clean, weed-free soil that is as flat as possible.
You'll also need to use the right accessories for your type of soil, such as geotextile to prevent weeds from growing back. Next, identify the direction in which your turf is to be laid, so that all the blades are installed in the same direction.
Make any necessary junctions, then brush your fake lawn for a beautiful, long-lasting result ! On average, brushing your artificial grass once or twice a year is sufficient, even if it's very thick. You can increase this frequency if you find it useful, and of course our teams are always at your disposal should you have any further questions !
If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Outdoor Turf For Playground.