Apart from obvious aesthetics, there are a lot of benefits artificial grass has. Let’s weigh the advantages and disadvantages of Artificial grass to understand better whether or not we should opt for it.
Advantages
1. Save and reduce water bills with artificial grass.
Unlike real grass, artificial grass may need water only twice a year just for deep cleaning. Hence it benefits the environment by reducing water usage.
2. Low maintenance gardening
It is much more convenient for the owner because it does not require much maintenance. It neither needs watering, Seeding, mowing, weeding, or fertilization like real grass. It primarily benefits people if they have to stay away from home for a long time as it will not grow wildly like natural grass.
3. No harmful pesticides
Harmful pesticides and herbicides that can cause health threats to wildlife and humans can be avoided with artificial lawns.
4. Save money on garden equipment.
Maintaining a natural lawn can be expensive, considering the costs of a lawnmower, strimmer, hand weeder, hand aerator, rake, lawn spade, trimmer, lawn shears, lawn scissors, hose, and sprinkler, and there is also the ongoing costs of blade replacements, electricity, re-seeding, fertilizing, water rates, etc. So, on the other hand, Artificial grass may come with an initial cost, but considering the long-term costs of maintaining natural turf, it’s much cheaper.
5. Artificial grass is UV protected.
Fake grass is UV protected; hence it won’t fade in sunlight and stays green all year round. Unlike natural turf, which turns brown in excessive sunlight.
6. No more grass stains.
Unlike natural grass, which can stain your cloth (especially white) on prolonged contact, artificial grass poses no threat to your white clothes as they are manufactured from superior PP & PE fibers, which are entirely synthetic.
7. No allergies
As per studies, grass pollen has been the cause of seasonal allergies, affecting approximately 90% of hay fever sufferers. So artificial grass is perfect for hay fever sufferers due to its zero pollen count.
8. Child Friendly
Artificial grass is mess-free, soft, and cushioned, so perfect for playing on, and requires no chemicals or pesticides, so it is safer, making it great for kids.
9. Pet Friendly
Artificial turf can’t be spoiled by mud patches dug up by pets as real grass. It stays hygienic and unaffected by urine and is easy to clean. Also, animal waste can be easily cleaned off the lawn using a light detergent & water or any pet-friendly products. And most importantly, pets will enjoy artificial grass as much as they prefer natural grass.
10. The solution for shaded areas
Natural lawns require 4-6 hours of full sun every day, without which, turf can deteriorate, becoming less resilient and prone to disease. Caring for a shaded lawn takes effort, time, and often costly treatments. In such cases, artificial lawn comes to the rescue, which can be installed anywhere without any maintenance.
11. Weather-proof
Quick-drying and weather-proof artificial grass will not delay sporting activities such as football, cricket, or rugby due to rain.
12. Choice of colors
With a huge range of artificial grass available, one can choose the exact color shade, density, yarn shape, pile height, and thickness that one needs and never have to worry about it again.
Disadvantages
1. Removing natural habitat for wildlife
By replacing natural lawns with artificial grass, the natural habitat of many living organisms gets destroyed. However, installing flower beds around artificial lawns will solve the issue to an extent, and the soil sub-base is still home to worms and other wildlife.
2. Initial costing
Artificial grass itself and its cost of installation are pretty expensive. The initial cost also includes the prices of weed membrane, adhesive, fixing nails, etc. However, over the long term, it works out cheaper than natural turf as it does not have the high maintenance costs of natural grass.
3. Installment process
The installment process is quite daunting and requires extensive groundwork. It is vital to create a flat, porous base to allow for drainage as this plays a crucial role in the performance of grass. Any blockages can cause stagnant water or odor issues. So, it’s best to leave this part to the professionals – particularly for full lawn replacements making the process costly.
4. The smell of real grass
That fresh-cut grass smell is something you’re going to miss with fake grass.
5. Lifespan
Artificial grass will not last for the same time as natural grass will. On average, artificial grass is expected to have a lifespan of 7-15 years. This is still a long time and will provide the customer with many years of easy maintenance.
6. Extreme Heat
Artificial grass can get hot in extreme heat; however, it should not cause any burns. Applying sand infill will help keep the turf cool.
So now, knowing the advantages and disadvantages of artificial grass, you can make a more confident decision on getting your artificial grass. However, be careful to select the best quality artificial grass to maximize your comfort.
