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Enjoy Your Easter With An Artificial Lawn

noreply@blogger.com (Artificial Grass Limited) — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 15:18:00 +0000

Well, it's that time of year again ... you're just contemplating the nice idea of a quiet Easter holiday and you remember the garden!

You know there'll be plenty of tidying up and replanting to do, especially after the worst winter in Britain for 30 years, but then you console yourself that annual replanting is a part of every garden and there's nothing you can do about the weather. So you accept to just get on with it with the hope that it won't take up all the holiday you have.

Then that sinking feeling sets in ... you just remembered the lawn! You look at the faded, patchy, muddy, weed-ridden, mossy mess and contemplate what it will take to get it in shape.You start paging through seed catalogues, get the mower out of the shed for an overhaul and tune-up; then come the visits to the local garden centre for pesticides to sort out the moss and weeds. The notion of a relaxing Easter break is now a mere fantasy ... and all in pursuit of that 'perfect lawn'.

What a waste! With an artificial lawn you can throw away the mower and do Mother Nature a favour by abandoning pesticides AND saving on water this summer. And that's not all ... the kids and the dog won't be bringing in muddy feet to the house any more either and every Easter from now on you can relax.

The initial cost of installing an artificial lawn will of course be more than the annual cost to revamp your old natural grass lawn BUT it's the lifetime savings that add up - no more seeding, fertilizing, trimming, mowing, strimming, watering plus all the time you will have saved ... time you can spend doing far more valuable and enjoyable things. In addition, there are the environmental benefits.

If you still need convincing, look at these 'before' and 'after' photos ...

Yes, it's the same garden! And if that's not enough to convince you, you can read about the advantages of artificial grass and check out our Artificial Grass FAQ section.

We rest our case!

The 'Green' Green Grass Of Home - For Chickens

noreply@blogger.com (Artificial Grass Limited) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 10:00:00 +0000

Two of the benefits of artificial grass that we have talked about before are how it can help us care for the environment (saving on water and pesticides) and how it can be good for animals (dog runs and kennels).

Well it seems that one large scale industry will soon be adopting new production methods that include artificial grass when it has to meet new EU regulations aimed at protecting the environment and improving animal welfare. The industry .... chicken farming!

In 2012 the EU will require that industrial chicken farms provide enough space for the chickens to move around freely with access to natural light and fresh air and also that their cages are better equipped with a type of bed for each bird to rest on and with sand, grass or artificial grass in their base. Interesting to note that the worth of artificial grass has been recognised by the EU within these new requirements. Some might think this all sounds a little unrealistic but that’s not the case.

One company has already designed a new henhouse that will not only meet the new EU requirements but possibly surpass them. Agrotop’s new industrial henhouse is, they claim, completely 'green'. The coop is designed to blend in with its surroundings so as not to compromise the natural landscape and its roof houses wind turbines and photovoltaic cells so that it can produce its own wind and solar power for electricity generation. Not only that but there is recycling of wastewater and the chicken waste can be processed to produce biofuels, thus offering the chicken farmer a possible additional source of revenue. Read more about this henhouse of the future.

You can find more information about the environmental benefits of artificial grass on our website.

Mowing The Grass - A Dangerous Pursuit?

noreply@blogger.com (Artificial Grass Limited) — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 11:46:00 +0000

Even though it's still winter here in the UK with heavy snow in most areas, it won't be long before people start thinking of getting out the old lawn mower ready for that first cut of the Spring. Before you so, however, this might be a good time to reflect on whether you should have an artificial grass lawn installed.

”Why?” you might ask. Well, apart from the most obvious benefits of artificial grass such as saving on water, helping to reduce air and river pollution and avoiding grass allergies, mowing natural grass can lead to accidents and injuries.

According to a BBC report carried out over a period of 5 years in the USA, well over 60,000 Americans were admitted to hospital A&E because of lawn mower accidents. The most common injuries were cuts and bruises but there were cases of bone fractures, limb amputations and even a number of deaths. Admittedly, it was the ride-on type of lawn mower that was involved in the majority of these accidents and in the UK, of course, only a fraction of households can afford that type of mower. However, you should not rest on your laurels if you use a push-type mower because according to reports, over 6,000 people are injured every single year in the UK by lawn mowers of all types - a staggering statistic. Most of these injuries appear to be because the users either did not follow the mower manufacturer's instructions correctly or they misused the mower in some way.

So what's the solution? Well, you can start reading up on how to avoid lawn mower injuries OR you can decide to install artificial grass. Long term you are likely to reap far greater benefits than just avoiding lawn mower accidents – you’ll be helping the environment, saving on needless lawn watering and of course spending more time in your garden at leisure because you don't have to spend countless hours mowing the grass and emptying the grass clippings!

Alien Abductions & Artificial Grass

noreply@blogger.com (Artificial Grass Limited) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 09:50:00 +0000

Christmas is coming! Every year at this time we see a huge surge in orders for our white artificial grass which is ideal for Christmas displays and of course Santa's Grotto. It adds a great 'snowy' feel to the setting and is available in rolls 1 yard wide with the maximum length of a roll being up to 25 yards. As artificial grass manufacturers we are also able to offer a favourable price! Check out our Snow Grass today.

You might think the story for Christmas use of artificial grass ends there ... but you would be wrong. Amongst the usual plethera of new gadgets recently launched onto the market as Christmas gifts, there is a really novel one that uses artificial grass - the Alien Abduction Lamp. You might just be wondering how on earth artificial grass could be combined with a lamp and aliens - that was our first reaction too! But it's true .... as the picture shows it is a decorative lamp (apparently not ideal as a reading lamp) containing a 'beam' made from moulded acrylic. It uses low energy LED lights and comes with an 'abductee' which is usually a cow, though you can of course use one of your own characters or models. And of course, the cow has to be on grass so a small circular piece of artificial grass offers the ideal setting. Well you couldn't use real grass could you?!

This is one of the most novel ways in which we have seen artificial grass used as an 'accessory' but we are sure it won't be the last!

Photograph courtesy of abductionlamp.com

Prize-Winning Artificial Lawn

noreply@blogger.com (Artificial Grass Limited) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:48:00 +0000

Mrs Brooker lives in Brentwood in Essex. She has a small garden but takes great pride in its appearance. However, she now has a knee problem and was finding it difficult to mow the lawn in her sloping garden. With her husband being blind she knew she had no choice but to abandon the idea of keeping a natural grass lawn. Initially, she thought her only choice was going to be a conversion to hard-standing but a visit to the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show changed all of that. There she saw an artificial lawn on display and was so impressed by its natural luscious look that it became the obvious solution.

After the artificial grass was installed, she proudly put a lot of time and energy into the planting of her borders and hanging baskets and subsequently entered and also won the Brentwood in Bloom competition. A wonderful accolade for artificial grass in our gardens!

Sadly, Mrs Brooker came under criticism from other competitors who accused her of cheating with 'plastic grass'. Well, the Brentwood in Bloom organisers were asked to comment and simply replied saying that Mrs Brooker had not broken any rules. Perhaps 'sour grapes' from poor losers we ask?

You can read the full story here courtesy of the Daily Mail. When you read the article, take a look at the number and the tone of comments posted by readers in reaction to it. There are a small number of negative comments such as:

”It's neat, and the little flowers are quite colourful I suppose, but, "plastic lawn" part, how on earth did it win a GARDENING prize? I'm gobsmacked!”

However, there are far more positive comments that outweigh these which have also scored higher ratings from readers, such as:

"I have got an artificial lawn in my garden and it looks fab you would never know that it was artificial! People have often stopped and commented on how wonderful it looks and it must take me a lot of up keep. I think Mrs Brooker's garden looks fab and she should have won!"

"I have got artificial lawn in my front garden. Its fantastic and looks great all year round. People stop and ask me how I get my lawn to look so good. My children and their friends love to play out on it, and the dog thinks its great too."

However, the best and possibly most appropriate comment posted was this:

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I guess."

Grass As A Fashion Accessory

noreply@blogger.com (Artificial Grass Limited) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:10:00 +0000

Such a phrase would at one time have generated a wry smile of disbelief on many people’s faces … but not in today’s world! Yes, believe it or not, grass has become the latest target for the fashion industry and in particular the perfume and gadget manufacturers.

“Eau de Mow”
In Australia, a recent news item generated worldwide interest when it announced the launch of a new perfume called “Eau de Mow”. The scent is called Serenascent and was developed by scientists at the University of Queensland, Brisbane who found that a chemical produced by freshly-cut grass actually helps people to be more relaxed. It is believed that the calming effect is linked to the chemical’s impact on the amygdala and hippocampus regions in the brain. Relieving stress is of course a key issue in many people’s lives today so the scientists are hoping for success when the perfume finally goes into production – expected any time. One thought that occurred to us here … what about grass allergy sufferers. Will they will be OK with this perfume? Could be it’s not for everyone!”

"Grassy Lawn Charging Station”
Most people have a couple of gadgets that need regular charging – a mobile phone and a camera for example. Well if you don’t like having to look at the untidy tangle of wires or cables whilst they are sitting on charge, there is now a handy solution. It’s a charging station that comes complete with its own “grassy lawn”. Yes, you can now put your gadgets on charge together sitting on a bed of artificial grass with all the wires neatly tucked away out of sight! Not something for everyone perhaps but for those with several gadgets and an eye for ‘designer’ looks, it might be just the right solution. You can read more here

City Beekeeping & Artificial Grass

noreply@blogger.com (Artificial Grass Limited) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 08:34:00 +0000

At the end of last summer we wrote about increasing concerns for the future of the honey bee around the world. We quoted examples from southern Germany (where a significant rise in honey bee deaths had been linked to pesticides resulting in the German Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection suspending the registration of 8 pesticide treatments) and the United States where an environmental group had filed a lawsuit against the Federal Environmental Protection Agency for withholding information about the risks to honey bees from pesticide treatments. Clearly, the argument for reducing use of pesticides has never been so strong and with high profile celebrities such as Scarlett Johansson taking to beekeeping, it can only stand to gain momentum.

Now comes the news that the British honey bee population is in serious decline with numbers falling by as much as 30%. See a special BBC News report. The upside to this disturbing news is the growing number of people in Britain who are interested in keeping bees and maintaining their own beehives. The majority live in the countryside which is logical but what about those living in towns and cities? Well, they too now have an option to help the plight of the honey bee. It's called the beehaus. A bright yellow plastic box about the size of an average barbecue set, it is designed to reduce swarming and, it's claimed, can yield up to 20 kilograms (44 pounds) of honey in a year. It doesn't take up much space and its inventors are keen to point this out saying it is ideal for use on balconies and rooftop gardens.

So for those Brits who live an urban lifestyle and don't have a garden, they can now take their balcony or rooftop and convert it into a honey-producing space and play their part in saving the British honeybee. Using artificial grass to make the area colourful and pleasant under foot is the ideal compliment to the venture - no mowing, no watering and, above all, no pesticides required!

Read our Rooftop Grass Growing Fast post.

For more information on beekeeping go to the British Beekeepers' Association (BBKA) website.

Summer Sneezing? Your Ally - Artificial Grass

noreply@blogger.com (Artificial Grass Limited) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:15:00 +0000

The sunshine of summer is here again and whilst it's a time most people look forward to, it isn't the case for everyone, especially 'Hay Fever' sufferers.

Last summer we wrote about grass allergies which can cause sore eyes, a running nose, headaches and a poor quality of sleep for many people. The 4 months of May, June, July and August tend to see an abundance of grass pollens such as meadow grass and rye and right now we are in the middle of that key period. On top of that the Met Office has predicted warm and sunny weather for the end of June, possibly into July, so if you are a grass allergy sufferer, you might just end up with tears in your eyes if you go anywhere near grassed areas, whether newly mown or not!

According to statistics from the BBC, there are about 9 million people in Britain who currently struggle to cope with the effects of 'Hay Fever'. There is some excellent advice on the BBC's current Hay Fever page for anyone interested in ways to alleviate their suffering.

Interestingly from our point of view as artificial grass manufacturers, they suggest that you plan your garden carefully. They also suggest asking someone else to cut your garden grass for you and that you should consider using the water sprinkler to dampen down the pollen before you sit in the garden. Another interesting tip is to dampen down the fur of any pets who have been playing on the grass by using a damp towel as they may well have picked up pollen in their coats.

Sound advice and most welcome BUT if you had an artificial lawn in your garden you would not have to worry about any of these actions. What's more, your pets could benefit as well because:

a) they would not run the risk of a pollen allergy - apparently animals can experience grass allergies just as humans do, though they tend to get itchy ears rather than suffer respiratory problems. Read more about hay fever in animals.

b) they would be able to enjoy much more time in the garden - after heavy rain they wouldn't be at risk of getting all muddy and dirty;

c) pet dogs who love to dig (and there are plenty of them around!) would no longer be able to ruin your lawn so they too might enjoy much more freedom.

You can read more about artificial grass and pets on our website.

Artificial grass has the kind of benefits that go beyond most people's thinking and we hope that by sharing this kind of information with the general public it will help engender greater confidence and trust in what is an incredibly versatile product, ideal for today's lifestyle.

Looking Forward To The Promise Of Summer

noreply@blogger.com (Artificial Grass Limited) — Sat, 30 May 2009 08:26:00 +0000

According to Ewen McCallum, Chief Meteorologist at the UK's Met Office, a warmer than average summer awaits us here in Britain and rainfall is likely to be near or possibly even below average. In his statement at the end of April Mr. McCallum went on to say:

" We can expect times when temperatures will be above 30 °C, something we hardly saw at all last year."

So it seems that a wet summer as we had to endure last year and the year before here in Britain is not on the cards. Sounds great! If they are right, however, does that really bode well for British gardens?

On the face of it you would think so ... heavy rain can make a mud bath of children's play areas and lawns and seriously restrict the amount of time people are able to spend in their gardens. Fewer barbecues, fewer outdoor parties and celebrations, the list goes on. So a warmer, drier than average summer would appear to be great all round. However, look more deeply and you will find a counter-balance of negatives. If rainfall is lower than average and we get temperatures above 30 °C as the Met Office predicts, then we could face water shortages.

In the past, summer water shortages in Britain have led to hosepipe bans and that is when our gardens and lawns can seriously suffer. A luscious lawn or soft, grassy children's play area becomes hardened, dried out and yellowed - far from ideal when the sun is shining and you and your family want to be outdoors enjoying the garden. The solution? Artificial grass.

With an artificial lawn or artificial play grass area, the colour and texture are consistent come rain or shine so hosepipe bans are immaterial. Moreover, if the Met Office experts get it wrong and it pours with rain this summer, you will be even happier you installed artificial grass because once the sun is out again and everyone else is facing a mud bath when using their lawn, you won't!

So if you have not yet ordered your artificial grass for this summer, think again. It might just be worth working out how much more time you and your family will be able to enjoy the garden, come rain or sunshine!

Useful links for further reading:

The Met Office Summer Forecast for 2009

More about the advantages of artificial grass

May Day Discount Celebrations With Artificial Grass

noreply@blogger.com (Artificial Grass Limited) — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:18:00 +0000

Being the leading UK artificial grass manufacturer selling direct to the public, we know from customer feedback that our grass products meet the highest standards. Our 1 to 1 direct relationship, however, holds other benefits - particularly for our customers, because we are able to occasionally offer some fantastic discounts.

The month of May sees us continuing to offer a VERY special deal of 35% discount across the whole of our artificial grass range.

Why would we do that? Because being a British manufacturer with a British workforce, we are keenly aware that many families are finding the economics of running a home very difficult to manage at this time. Moreover, a home is not a home if you have a garden and cannot enjoy it.

May heralds the definitive arrival of Spring, a time when you need to get out and start to make something of your garden so that your family and your pets can enjoy this special time of year, hopefully looking ahead to warm, sunny days and bbqs!

So if you haven't yet thought of using artificial grass in your garden, now's the time to consider it. Get out this May Day Bank Holiday weekend and measure it all up, then check out our artificial grass online store for a free, no-obligation quotation.

Just think of it …

no more mowing
no more watering (helping you save on those hefty water bills)
no more muddy feet and paws being dragged indoors on a wet day
no more yellowing, discoloured patches when the weather is inconsistent.

All of that along with a 35% discount - it's got to be tempting!

Any questions please don't hesitate to call our Customer Service on 0800 6521281.

Common Questions About Artificial Grass

noreply@blogger.com (Artificial Grass Limited) — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 15:17:00 +0000

Artificial grass is now well established as a product for today's 'Lifestyle'. Its benefits are recognised across a broad spectrum of applications, especially in the private, homeowner sector where gardens, lawns and children's play grass play an important role.

Despite this, however, artificial grass remains an enigma to some people, even though they may have heard of it or seen it before. We know because we get asked the same questions day after day! Not that we mind that - as manufacturers of artificial grass products with the UK's oldest, established artificial grass factory, we take pride in our knowledge of the product and are more than happy to share our expertise with the public. Indeed, we find that a well informed enquirer makes for a very good customer because of the confidence they develop when their questions are answered.

"Is artificial grass as good as grass?" is perhaps the most common question we are asked. Follow the link to one of our previous blog posts which deals with this in detail.

Here are some of the other more common artificial grass questions:

Do I need to water the grass?
What about the colour fastness of artificial grass?
Will weeds grow on the artificial grass?
Do I need to worry about insects?
What happens if local utility services need to be accessed?
Answers to these and a whole range of other questions can be found on our Artificial Grass FAQ (page 3).

If of course you have a question to which you cannot find an answer on our artificial grass website then by all means call our Customer Service on UK Freephone 0800 6521281.

Throw Out The Grass Mower - Go Racing Instead!

noreply@blogger.com (Artificial Grass Limited) — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 10:51:00 +0000

This is the time of year many people start thinking about what lies ahead to do in the garden ahead of Spring. For anyone with a garden, the upkeep and maintenance can be demanding. So if last year, you got tired of mowing the lawn, then why not give it up and install artificial grass!

That's not all though because apart from reaping the benefits of artificial grass such as more time for leisure, helping to improve the environment, not having to pay for or use pesticides etc, you don't actually have to throw away the mower. You could go lawn mower racing instead! Sounds crazy? Not a bit - there are lots of people getting into this fast growing sport.

For example, in our area of Cumbria there is the North West Lawn Mower Racing Association which races all over the North of England and Midlands. Races are held for a variety of levels - from Group 1 (the smaller run-behind mowers) up to Group 4 (small bonneted tractor). There are of course very important safety issues to consider before you can actually go mower racing. They vary with each Group level of machine and these are spelled out in their Lawn Mower Racing FAQ page.

Even if you decide against going racing with your old lawn mower, you might still want to go and watch others taking part in what sounds like a fun day out.

The British Lawn Mower Racing Association carries lots of information for spectators of the sport including forthcoming events and lawn mower race meetings

Making Artificial Grass - The British Way

noreply@blogger.com (Artificial Grass Limited) — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 17:23:00 +0000

How artificial grass is made is something of an enigma to most people and this is where we, as the UK's premier artifical grass manufacturer, can help de-mystify the process.

Our artificial grass factory is the oldest in Britain and our grass products have been used in just about every sphere of activity - from sports applications to people's back gardens and children's play areas to display purposes in supermarkets, grocery stores and trade fairs/exhibitions. So we know the product inside out.

Manufacturing artificial grass involves a number of specially trained staff all of whom have their own specific tasks in the production process. Essentially, manufacturing artificial grass splits into 3 key stages - the tufting operation (weaving of the grass carpet), the backing plant operation and the inspection process. Quality control checks play an important role in our manufacturing and we employ stringent and detailed checks throughout the process, using only top quality yarn, primary backing and latex.

The Tufting Operation
The collector board feeds the yarn through threading bars and yarn detectors down to the needles where it is stitched into the primary backing. As the tufted primary backing comes off the machine (having been checked by factory inspection staff), it goes through a lapping frame to be lap folded into lapping barrows. Lap folding is important as it helps preserve the quality of the tufting - rolling the product up at this stage would risk pile distortion or damage to the backing stitches.

The Backing Plant Operation
The tufted primary backing is transported to the backing plant in rubber wheeled, lapping barrows where it undergoes 'tip to tail sewing'. The latex coating is applied to the finished, tufted material and a special scraping blade (aka doctor blade) scrapes off the latex ensuring the correct weight per square metre. The product then goes into the ovens for curing and, once out of the ovens, is fed into the perforation unit. This is where the draining holes are punched into the material and then the final product goes to the accumulator. This allows the grass carpet to be stored whilst re-rolling and further inspection is carried out.

More detailed information on the manufacturing and inspection procedures we adopt in the manufacture of our artificial grass products can be found here.

We also have our own, specially produced video of how artificial grass is manfuactured.

Roll Out The Green Carpet For Your Garage

noreply@blogger.com (Artificial Grass Limited) — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 10:56:00 +0000

It’s the time of year for thinking about protection against cold and frost – be it for your home or your car. Last year we told our readers about how The Prince of Wales had used artificial grass as garage floor carpeting in order to provide better insulation. The impetus for doing so had apparently been that the biodiesel engine in his new Range Rover was susceptible to low overnight temperatures.

However, you don’t have to own a biodiesel engine vehicle to justify some garage insulation. Energy costs as we all know have been driven sky high in recent months and we all to be more energy conscious for the sake of the environment and save on fossil fuels. So insulating your garage is important for a variety of reasons.

When considering garage insulation many people think only of the walls and ceiling. They might even install roller garage doors that provide not only good insulation but extra security. However, it’s the garage floor that is often neglected and it’s not surprising really. After all, standard carpet isn’t going to last very long nor is it going to look appropriate. With artificial grass carpet, however, your garage floor can look great and benefit from extra insulation at the same time.

So if you’re thinking about improving your garage insulation, feel free to call our Customer Service team on UK Freephone 0800 6521281 for advice on how artificial grass could be the solution for you.

The Growing Importance Of Permeable Surfacing

noreply@blogger.com (Artificial Grass Limited) — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 10:53:00 +0000

New government legislation recently came into force in an attempt to combat the risk of flooding which has hit many areas of Britain so hard in recent years. Homeowners are now required to seek planning permission if they want to pave over more than 5m2 of their front garden using impermeable materials such as tarmac or concrete. The reason? These materials prevent rainwater soaking into the ground and so can add to the risk of flooding.

Apparently, the number of people who have paved over their gardens in recent years in the London area alone has led to the loss of green space equal in size to no less than 22 times the size of Hyde Park!

People naturally want to improve their quality of life at home so it’s very common for a family to think of paving over their front garden to accommodate an extra car. Many homeowners also opt for a concrete patio as well so they can avoid having to set their table and chairs onto muddy grass after heavy rainfall. This is where artificial grass is a great solution. It not only gives you a mud-free area that is far more pleasant under foot and visually than a concrete patio, but it is permeable so rain can soak through into the ground.

It’s not surprising therefore that more paving and driveway specialists are coming to Artificial Grass Ltd to supplement their range of paving products. Read how one paving specialist has even set up his own artificial grass store front to help get the message across to the public.

More details on the legislation affecting driveway paving can be found on the government’s Business Link website.

Nativity Grass

noreply@blogger.com (Artificial Grass Limited) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 10:53:00 +0000

Regular readers of our blog will already know about our white artificial grass which is popular for Santa’s Grottos – see our special feature this time last year.

White artificial grass has a wide range of applications, especially at Christmas – from shop window dressing to theatrical and stage use as well as in schools and nurseries. Using some of our snow grass at home in your conservatory is another option; a great way to enhance a display of Christmas cards or perhaps things your children have made specially for Christmas.

This photo was taken last week in the pedestrian area of Carlisle city centre where thousands of shoppers will pass through over the coming weeks on their way to do their Christmas shopping. Amongst the tall, green Christmas trees and array of coloured lighting, one thing stands out as special – a Christmas nativity scene which dazzles with white lights, all standing on a base covered with artificial grass.

However, it is not white artificial grass but green. Why? Well, we’re not entirely sure but it could be one of two things …

the builders did not know at the time that white artificial grass is even available

because a display of white figures with white lighting on white grass would not offer sufficient contrast, hence green artificial grass offered the perfect compliment.

Either way, it’s another endorsement of how artificial grass has a myriad of uses in situations where natural grass just would not work.

Rooftop Grass Growing Fast

noreply@blogger.com (Artificial Grass Limited) — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 17:27:00 +0000

Enjoying a rooftop garden is nothing new. We have advocated the benefits of rooftop gardens since the early days of the Artificial Grass Blog and our post back in May 2007 ‘Roof Gardens: A Cool Lifestyle In A Hot City’ has been one of the most popular to date.

Looking beyond the UK and indeed beyond Europe to countries much further afield where hot climates prevail, there has recently been a significant increase in rooftop garden construction.

Take South Korea for example. In Seoul, building owners can get up to 70% of the cost of creating a roof garden as a subsidy from the local government which has been promoting ‘green Seoul’ projects since as far back as 2002. Many office workers in the city benefit from this, opting to take a relaxing break or even hold some of their meetings in the more pleasant surroundings that their building’s roof garden offers.

The therapeutic benefits of roof gardens in Seoul are not restricted to office workers though. Hospital patients are also able to enjoy them, a good example of that being Eunpyeong Hospital in Seoul which has built a rooftop garden on the top of their building specifically for use by its patients. According to a spokesperson for the hospital the garden “can help patients stay in an emotionally comfortable condition and have a positive mind … the green environment is especially helpful for those suffering from depression.” Read the full article here

Grass Storefront Success

noreply@blogger.com (Artificial Grass Limited) — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 11:13:00 +0000

One of the more interesting and perhaps unexpected success stories for artificial grass distribution is in the number of paving and driveway specialists that are now using and promoting the product.

Anthony Pownall operates a well established driveway and paving company (Pownall Paving) and earlier this year started using our artificial grass as a complimentary product alongside his paving work. Such was the level of interest that he decided more people in his local area of Stalybridge should know about the product rather than wait to have a driveway done before thinking about it.

The result ... an artificial grass storefront sited on the main traffic thoroughfare of the town!

Passing cars stop at the traffic lights right in front of Anthony's store where he has a display of artificial grass in the window as well as a super, new sign above the shop entrance. When people enter the shop they are greeted by a range of artificial grass samples. They can browse and take a close look at the difference in colours available and also, perhaps most importantly, to feel the quality of the product. After all, not many people would invest in a new carpet without first calling in at the carpet store to do the same thing. Artificial grass is no different - you need to see and feel before you buy and that is where this paving specialist has used his initiative to forge ahead of the competition.

More tips on selling artificial grass

Pesticides: The Birds & The Bees

noreply@blogger.com (Artificial Grass Limited) — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 15:40:00 +0000

We have touched on the subject of pesticides before in our artificial grass blog because of the potential hazard they pose to human health and the environment and there is no doubt that many people are now turning to artificial grass as a preferred alternative to real grass just so that they can avoid using pesticides on their lawn. That is great news ... but what about the birds and the bees? Yes, we mean that quite literally.

Recent reports suggest that both birds and bees are increasingly becoming unwitting victims of pesticide contamination and disastrous consequences loom on the horizon if the situation is not taken in hand with adequate counter measures.

Pesticides of course encompass many types of 'synthetic poisons' used in different applications - eg. insecticides (against insects), herbicides (against weeds), fungicides (against fungus) and so on. Using pesticide compounds releases chemiclas into the environment and with that is carried the inherent danger of harming 'innocent' inhabitants of gardens and farmland - hence the birds and bees reference.

Population declines in birds have been the subject of investigation for some time and detailed monitoring seems to indicate a strong connection between bird population crashes and pesticide contamination. The Smithsonian National Zoological Park has an excellent detailed web page entitled "When It Comes To Pesticides, Birds Are Sitting Ducks".

As for bees, there is growing global concern about the risks that pesticides pose to honey bees in particular. This summer honey bee keepers in southern Germany reported a wave of honey bee deaths linked to clothianidin (pesticide) and as a result the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection in Germany went as far as suspending the registration of eight pesticide seed treatments (used in sweet corn and oilseed rape). A couple of months later, an environmental advocacy group in the USA filed a lawsuit against the Federal Environmental Protection Agency on the grounds of withholding information about the risks posed to honey bees by pesticides. Serious action on both counts - and for good reason.

The balance of the world's eco system is already fragile so with every new report of damage to wildlife by pesticides we need to press for greater openness on the subject and support ideas to help solve the problem.

After all, where we would be without the birds and the bees?

Photograph: European honey bee - courtesy of Wikipedia's honey bee page

International Interest For Grass Glee 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Artificial Grass Limited) — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 15:30:00 +0000

Artificial Grass Ltd recently made its second, consecutive appearance at Glee 2008, the major international trade show for gardens and leisure. Having enjoyed impressive results from Glee 2007 including a special feature for our artificial grass in a network TV Garden Makeover, we were keen to see what our experience would be a year on. We were not disappointed!

Many visitors to our stand, aware that we actually manufacture our own grass products, were keen to talk in depth about the benefits of artificial grass and the variety of applications to which it can be put. We talked to homeowners looking to install an artificial lawn or putting green in their back garden as well as to a wide range of companies - landscaping, construction, architects, driveway specialists, garden centre buyers, shop window dressers and product design and development companies.

Interest from the UK was every bit as good as last year but with one noticeable difference - a significantly higher proportion of 'key decision makers' were in attendance. It could be a coincidence but it is most probably simply an indication that product quality is coming under closer scrutiny before a decision to invest is made. If that is the case then it is good news ... for us at least, because as manufacturers of artificial grass we can speak with in-depth knowledge and confidence about our product.

Perhaps the most significant difference compared to Glee 2007 was the increase in international visitors who came to our stand - twice as many as last year. We had interest from buyers in a wide variety of countries including Japan, Hong Kong, Switzerland, Sweden, France, Austria and Finland. It seems that the issues of global warming, the need to reduce pesticides in the environment and the desire to save on water resonate around the world and we are delighted that artificial grass has a role to play in combating these issues.

The case for artificial grass as a global product has never looked better.

A Technical Textile: Artificial Grass

noreply@blogger.com (Artificial Grass Limited) — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 13:33:00 +0000

Technical textiles - one of the newer terms in the already wide vocabulary synonomous with artificial grass and astro turf type products. It's definitely not used by home owners nor by landscapers and sports pitch builders. So who might refer to artificial grass as a technical textile?

Well it seems to be popular with yarn manufacturers and tabloid financial editors when referring to companies that produce or deal in 'fibrous structures'. There is also the academic sector where people study technical textiles so they can work within or provide services to the international industrial textile community.

Artificial grass is only one of many, many types of technical textiles that might be studied - others include geosynthetics, composites and a whole range of industrial fabrics used in outdoor protective clothing, equipment and sportswear. And that's about as technical we're going to get on technical textiles! Our previous post on the vagaries of artificial grass terminology covers many of the other terms.

Anyone interested in a career in technical textiles might like to read the Centre For Technical Textiles in Leeds website.

Grass Fit For A Falcon

noreply@blogger.com (Artificial Grass Limited) — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 20:52:00 +0000

Artificial grass has many applications and it's nice to occasionally cover some of the more unusual ones for the benefit of our readers. Previously we have talked about it being used as vivarium grass where owners of lizards and snakes find grass carpet ideal for vivarium lining. Well, here's another interesting use involving 'live' creatures - falconry.

Falconry displays are quite commonplace these days. You can either go to a falconry centre or even chance upon a display whilst out and about in the country, perhaps visiting a special event at a castle or country fair.

So where does artificial grass come in? Well, in between their flying, the birds have to sit and rest on wooden posts/perches and if you look closely you'll find many of them are covered in artificial grass. One of our team recently saw a falconry display where the posts were covered like this and so asked the event manager (Geoff of Frontline Falconry) why.

Apparently, artificial grass serves 2 purposes:

it provides an undulating surface (as opposed to smooth wood) which is important for the birds' feet to have good circulation. Poor circulation can apparently lead to 'bumble foot'.
it offers the birds a good surface grip when landing/moving on their posts

If you haven't seen what we're talking about here there's a falconry website that shows artificial grass on the posts: http://www.gallowayfalconry.co.uk/

Green Living In A Green House

noreply@blogger.com (Artificial Grass Limited) — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 13:17:00 +0000

We are all aware of the need to lead a 'green lifestyle'. Our New Year's Resolutions post touched on the subject at the beginning of this year and 8 months on, the lobby in support of the idea seems to gaining ever more ground. Tabloid press articles and tv news items seem to remind us every day and this is not just in the UK but all around the world.

In a recent Internet news article there was an interesting feature on an Austrian company of architects (GRID) who have taken the idea of 'living green' to a new level with the building of an artificial grass house.

The Amalia House as it's known has a 'skin' made from artificial grass panels covering a frame of wood panels. Described as: "the first artificial grass camouflage building in Austria", the reasons behind the concept are quoted as being "to give tribute to the nature around her and maximise the interchange between inside and outside. Looking at the picture it certainly seems to blend into its surroundings.

Could it be the first of many more?

Time alone will tell but it's just another example of the impact that artificial grass is making around the world. Not so very long ago, architects and constructions companies would never have considered such an idea. However, to quote Bob Dylan, "the times they are a changin' " ....

Greener Grass For Younger Generation

noreply@blogger.com (Artificial Grass Limited) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 15:40:00 +0000

As we've previously reported, play areas with an astro turf grass surface are becoming increasingly popular. The benefits of this latest generation of artificial grass are ideal for encouraging children to enjoy their playtime outdoors. Perhaps this is why more schools are now opting to have astro turf grass installed for their sports pitches.

Astro turf makes the ideal multi-use pitch where a variety of sports can be played including hockey and football. In the USA astro turf grass pitches have been popular with schools and colleges for many years. The US market was quick to recognise the advantages of this type of sports pitch, especially low maintenance and all year round availability.

Our factory has produced artificial grass for a variety of UK schools and colleges over the years, especially for Multi Games Use (MUGAS) and the level of enquiries received at the factory for this type of application seem to increase year upon year. Of course the specification of the grass for an astro turf type sports surface is different to the artificial grass we supply to our domestic customers for use in their gardens. It is our understanding of these factors that enables us to confidently supply the most suitable grass for each and every one of our customers.

So whether you are a head of school considering the idea of using astro turf grass or whether you just have a back patio that you would like to improve, feel free to contact our Customer Services Team on our UK Freephone for advice and guidance.

More reading on artificial grass for schools