Is Artificial Grass As Good As Grass?

Every day our artificial grass sales team deals with enquiries and orders for our artificial grass products. One of the most common questions we are asked is whether artificial grass is as good as grass. So we thought we would dedicate this blog article to the subject and demonstrate how it's not only as good as grass but, in many ways, is much better.

Artificial grass offers a whole range of advantages - here are just a few:

• Saving time that would otherwise be spent on mowing the lawn


• Saving money:
  a) by not having to use pesticides and lawn improvement products
  b) if you're on a water meter, you won't have to water the lawn in hot weather


• Helping the environment:
  a) by using less water in the garden - it has been estimated that in the summer, around 3/4 of the UK's residential water is used on people's lawns
  b) pesticides can be damaging to the environment so best to avoid them
  c) grass cuttings contribute to air pollution - according to Australian scientists, the moment you cut your grass, an antibiotic type gas is released contributing to the hydrocarbons in the surrounding air.
  Read more about "Grass Gas"
  We also have our own page Environmental Benefits Of Artificial Grass
  
• A strong, "all year round green" is offered by artificial grass because, unlike real grass, it does not go yellow and discolour in hot weather, nor does it go brown and muddy after a lot of rain


• Artificial grass is easier to keep clean and maintain where pets are concerned - real grass areas can suffer serious degradation by pets
  

Whatever the application you're considering for your artificial grass - at home for a play area, an artificial lawn, a pathway or as grass carpet around a swimming pool or perhaps in the commercial sector as display grass for an exhibition area - the advantages are considerable. If you don't believe us, read some of our customer testimonials - see our page: "Is Artificial Grass As Good As Grass"

Pesticides - To Use Or Not To Use

A number of recent news articles have touched on the subject of pesticides and the arguments for and against their use in domestic gardens. Everyone wants an attractive garden of course and especially a nice looking lawn but at what price? Moreover, we’re not just talking about the cost of buying pesticide products but the question of potential hazards to human health and the environment.

Two major websites that cover the issue of safety with chemicals and pesticides are:

The Pesticides Safety Directorate official website – a UK Government backed website with lots of guidelines on the subject.

http://www.chem-tox.com/ - a US site with lots of detailed information. “Poison In The Grass” is the heading of one of their alarming reports which covers the hazards and consequences of lawn pesticides (http://www.chem-tox.com/pesticides/pesticidereport.htm).

Whether you believe the reports or not, you must ask yourself:

Do you have time to study all this information, then go into the local garden centre to delve through all the options of what’s available only to then have to commit to trying something out, not knowing the outcome?

Sounds like an awful waste of time and energy particularly when the real lifestyle choice of artificial grass offers a simple and effective solution.

Changing Climate and King Crabs In Antarctica

Two items of news in the last week have once again highlighted how our climate is changing due to global warming.

February 2008 has so far seen much milder day temperatures in the UK than is normal for the time of year. Newspapers have carried stories referring to "hottest February 12 ever" with the Met Office officially confirming that the temperature recorded in Trawsgoed Wales was 18.2 °C - around double what it would normally be. Indeed, this winter in the UK has had hardly any prolonged cold spells and according to the Met Office's Head of Climate Change, Derrick Ryall, we can expect the same each winter from now on.

The earth’s oceans too are warming up and this week concerns have been raised about how the whole ecosystem of Antarctica could be under threat because of this. Apparently, king crabs are poised to invade the shallower waters of the area as they become less cold and if this happens then the soft-bodied and thin-shelled creatures that have lived there for millions of years could be at risk.

Evidence of global warming and the threat it poses not only to our lives but to the earth as a whole seems to be around every corner. The need for us all to act more responsibly in the everyday choices we make is crucial. That’s why it’s heart-warming to know that many people in Britain have resolved this year to ‘become greener’ and improve their lifestyle as reported in a recent Sky Real Lives Survey - see our recent blog posting “New Year Resolution For A Better Lifestyle: Artificial Grass”.

New Year Resolution For A Better Lifestyle: Artificial Grass

The start of a new year heralds promise of better things to come and many people have resolved to improve their lifestyle in 2008. According to a Sky Real Lives survey published on 31 December 2007, most people in the UK want to improve their lifestyle, spend more time relaxing than working (as in the photo which features an artificial grass lawn) and work towards becoming 'greener'.

As the UK's leading manufacturer of artificial grass we wholeheartedly endsorse the idea; people need to spend more time with their friends and families and less time working, including working in the garden. Having a pristine lawn requires a lot of effort; not only that, but it places a big and unnecessary demand on water usage throughout the summer months (often the time when water usage is at its most critical) and requires regular application of pesticides and weedkillers. None of this is good for the environment.

So for anyone wishing to become 'greener' this is an area to focus on and it's where our artificial grass comes in. Having an artificial lawn means no more pesticides and weedkillers, no more need to run the water hose/sprinkler for endless hours in the summer and no need to get the lawnmower out every week. These are just some of the benefits to be enjoyed with artificial grass. To read more please visit our Artificial Grass Benefits page on our website.

With surveys such as the one from Sky Real Lives being published, we expect to see a significant increase this year in the demand for our artificial grass products, especially for children's play areas, an important item for many British families. (Look out for more on that shortly in our Artificial Grass Blog).

On The Verge Of Success With Artificial Grass

Green roadside verges in Britain may be a thing of the past before long thanks to global warming. As we all know, grass is only green with a regular supply of rain or water and when the inevitable hosepipe bans are introduced this summer, it will be the lack of water for our lawns and gardens that most of us think of. The thousands of miles of Britain's green grass verges will not get a second thought and will face a summer of drying out and yellowing. Traffic roundabouts and perimeter grassed areas of car parks and supermarkets as well as inner city public parks and walkways will also face the same fate. Local councils and organisations responsible for the maintenance of these verges and grassed areas will be hard pressed to do much about it.

Q: What's the answer? Q: Artificial Grass

These key features make it ideal for this application:

• green
• permeable
• hard wearing
• needs no watering
• virtually maintenance free

Other countries are well ahead of Britain in implementing the use of artificial grass for roadside verges and perimeter grass areas, particularly in hotter climates where the arid conditions rarely if ever give rise to natural grass growing. The photo above shows a roadside verge in Oman where artificial grass produced in our factory has been used to create a luscious, all year round, maintenance-free series of roadside verges. Public response has been overwhelmingly in favour of the new idea and we expect more similar orders to follow.

Will We Have to Mow The Lawn All Year Round?

According to latest reports, scientists are now arguing the possibility that many of us in the UK will soon have to mow the lawn all year round.

The National Environment Research Council has said that, as a result of mild winters in the last 5 years, around 35% of homeowners in the UK are now mowing their lawns in winter.

To put this in context, 20 years ago grass would only grow during winter in milder areas of the UK such as the Scilly Isles.

When the temperature is above 5 degrees Celsius grass will grow and this January (2007) was the second mildest on record with temperatures reaching 5.9 degrees Celsius. Out came the mowers!

If the thought of keeping the lawn mower going continually over 12 months doesn't appeal to you then it's time to consider installing artificial grass and start enjoying the extra time you will save.

(This article is based on data reported by WHICH magazine)

Don't Waste Water In The Garden - Use Artificial Grass

The impact of global warming is brought home to us every day from different sources within the media. The Daily Express special feature this week on how artificial grass in the garden can combat drought problems is a good example and recent feedback from our own artificial grass customers suggests serious concern about the need to save on water, especially in the garden.

So what are the statistics on water usage in the UK?
We did some research and discovered that:

- During hot weather garden watering accounts for 50%+ of the UK's water supply, compared to 6% in normal weather conditions

- Outdoor watering (medium sprinkler or handheld hose) uses 19-38 litres (5-10 gallons) per minute

- Watering your garden/lawn for 1 hour = 1,140 litres (300 gallons) of water

So how can we save on water?

Even if you cut down on your outdoor watering to just 15 minutes 4 times per week, you would still use over 1,000 litres of water (300 gallons). A staggering waste.
We believe there are 2 realistic options for saving water. One is voluntary, the other enforced.

Voluntary
Take control of your garden and water usage by installing an artificial grass lawn. It needs no watering so for every year of its use you will literally save thousands of litres of water. (Photographed above: an artficial grass lawn)

Enforced
Water authorities will have to consider making water meters compulsory - and they have the evidence to prove their case. In the 1980's water metering was trialled in 11 areas of the UK and subsequent years showed an average reduction of 11% in water usage in the homes concerned.

Our advice is don't wait for a water meter. By installing artificial grass you will not only save on water but enjoy lots of other advantages - save time on mowing, save money on pesticides and weedkillers and have an all year round green lawn to look at.

Artificial Grass - Environmental Benefits, Usage

A recent news article shows nicely how artificial grass can both support environmental concerns and enhance your lifestyle. The Prince of Wales had upgraded his Range Rover to run on biodiesel but was then faced with the difficulty of how to avoid problems caused by low overnight temperatures. Apparently as the temperature drops below -5 degrees centigrade then the biodiesel becomes thick and lumpy.

What was the solution? His Royal Highness turned to artificial grass as a covering for his garage floor in order to keep the temperature above freezing point. Whilst this was obviously a welcome endorsement for artificial grass, it serves as a reminder of the many different uses to which it can be put.

Here are just a few examples:

1. Putting greens - we have seen putting greens laid out inside buildings, even a small one in an office and recently we installed one as a leisure area for the use of delegates adjacent to a hotel conference room. Read more....

2. Swimming pool surrounds - traditionally natural grass doesn’t fare very well around swimming pools; the wear under foot creates a worn, bare and faded turf. Artificial grass is the ideal solution.

3. Roof gardens - planting shrubs and flowers in tubs is fine but when you want to really forget where you are and capture the feelings of being in a real garden then you need grass as well. Natural turf is generally not an option here but artificial grass is ideal.

4. Exhibition stands - if you sell outdoor products it helps to show them in an outdoor environment such as garden furniture etc. Conference centres and exhibition halls are not ideal for natural turf, but artificial grass can add a truly authentic look.

5. Airports - the grass verges of runways can be difficult to maintain, as they need regular cutting and maintenance. If also in a hot dry climate, they would need regular watering. Using artificial grass makes all these issues much easier.

There are many more ways in which artificial grass can help promote a better lifestyle as well as support environmental issues. If you come across any of the more unusual applications, please let us know.