Holiday Complex Lawns & Fake Grass

Amongst the many enquiries we receive for our grass products we have noticed an increasing number of people interested in having a fake lawn after they return from a holiday in the sun. Initially that may seem a little strange but it's because more and more holiday complexes and apartment complexes are installing fake grass in their communal areas.

This is particularly so in hot climates such as Spain and Portugal where natural grass can suffer long term punishment under the hot sun, drying out and turning hard and yellow - not exactly what you want to look out onto or experience underfoot whilst on holiday.

Recommended reading: "Where the rain in Spain is not enough" article on the UNESCO site.

Many apartment complexes have a communal swimming pool where the surrounding grass area gets a lot of wear and tear. Natural grass simply doesn't work well in this context - and that's irrespective of the climate. The answer is to use fake grass - it's soft under foot, permeable and will look green all year round.

The other main consideration for holiday apartment complexes is the shortage of water in the summer months. Therefore to maintain natural grassed communal areas they would need to water them regularly, possibly daily and that of course is a waste of a precious and expensive commodity. Again, this is where fake grass comes in as the most viable option.

Photo: An apartment complex in Mallorca where our fake grass was installed.

A Summer Soaking & Muddy Feet

The advantages of artificial grass are manifold but one particular benefit that we in Britain should not ignore is in wet weather conditions.

As many people now realise, wet weather is not restricted to autumn and winter storms or the odd spring shower but, in line with global warming predictions, our typical British summer seems to be getting ever wetter. Cumbria where our factory is based is a great example of how you should always carry a raincoat or umbrella in the boot of your car!.

Many public places in the UK endure 'high footfall'; these include city park paths, playing fields, annual public events such as the Hampton Court Flower Show and everyday visitor attractions such as Diggerland. When wet weather prevails, visitors to such places may have to endure muddy areas, resulting in muddy shoes trailed back home or into the car. Unless you go prepared wearing hiking boots or wellingtons (not exactly the in-thing at Hampton Court!), you may even find your shoes get ruined. With artificial grass being permeable and virtually maintenance free, it is an ideal choice for these 'high footfall' areas.

A recent article in the Guardian's "What Is The European Monsoon?" highlights the problems caused by British summer deluges, referring to the thousands of Wimbledon and Hampton Court Flower Show visitors who were sent scurrying for cover this year. Makes interesting reading.

Grapevines Not Grass In British Gardens?

Most people are familiar with the prediction of longer, hotter summers as an inevitable result of climate change and global warming and, indeed, some people might welcome the prospect with visions of enjoying the outdoors more, but such a change in our weather could have serious consequences for the beloved British garden.

Everything from hedges to plants, trees and the traditional British lawn will face a battle for survival if water becomes scarcer, summers become drier and winters become wetter.

A wealth of information has already been published on the subject and there's plenty of advice for gardeners who want to keep a colourful and flourishing garden throughout these changing times. For example, if you grow delphiniums and lupins, you will already know that they need moisture retentive soil and do not enjoy drier weather. Therefore you might want to consider planting flowers that are more drought tolerant. Growing fruit should become easier too in warmer weather and it might not be long before we see garden centres stocking more exotic fruit trees, even grapevines and palm trees.

Serious about growing grapevines in Britain? Find out how to grow them courtesy of this BBC Gardening page.

But what about grassed lawns? Many people are already concerned about having to use pesticides to keep their lawns looking green but warmer, drier summers and wetter winters will make lawn maintenance even more difficult. An artificial lawn may well be the answer - you'll save on water and pesticides and yellowed grass in summer will be a thing of the past. Wetter winters too will be much more bearable knowing that mud from the lawn won't find its way into the house. Take a look at this recent installation of an artificial lawn for a customer in Cheshire (as shown in the photograph).

Amongst the sources of information on global warming and gardening are:
The Royal Horticultural Society's report - Gardening in the Global Greenhouse

The Met Office's dedicated section on Climate Change