From hassle-free maintenance to drought resistance and a permanent green sheen, there’s a whole host of reasons why you should consider artificial grass.
While the real stuff might look more natural and feel softer underfoot, high-quality synthetic grass offers a viable alternative for time-poor Australians.
In this post, we’re providing 11 reasons why you should lay down artificial grass when it comes time to re-doing your lawn.
1. A permanent shade of green
The grass is always greener on the synthetic side.
Turf will wilt and discolour within a week if not watered properly; or even quicker during our scorching hot Aussie summers. Artificial grass, on the other hand, stays a lovely shade of luscious green throughout the year, regardless of the weather and your watering regime.
If you’ve ever peered over the lawn in despair at your brown, dried-out grass, it’s probably time you considered switching to synthetic.
2. A constant, freshly-cut look
Not only does artificial grass look green throughout the year, but it also stays at the perfect length.
Even the most enthusiastic home improvement gurus will neglect to mow their lawn from time to time—life sometimes gets in the way. These missed mowings result in an unsightly, overgrown yard that diminishes your home aesthetics and causes embarrassment when guests come around.
Artificial grass, however, remains at the ideal height no matter how busy (or lazy) you may be. Most homeowners choose to lay down a synthetic lawn 30mm high, which allows you to permanently retain a sleek, freshly-cut look.
3. Drought resistant properties
Australia is no stranger to drought. Our sunburnt country commonly goes several years without any significant rain, especially when El Niño rears his ugly head. And when the ground dries up and the temperature soars, the first thing to perish will be your turf-laden lawn.
During a drought, you only have one option to keep a real lawn alive: regular watering. Not only must you abide by strict water restrictions, but you’ll also be wasting a precious natural resource. Watering your lawn regularly through a bone-dry summer is hardly ideal.
Artificial grass, of course, doesn’t need H2O to retain its vibrant green sheen. That aids your limited city water supply and saves you the hassle of turning the sprinklers on.
4. No more mud
Drought isn’t the only environmental issue facing Australia today. Torrential rain can occur throughout the year, especially in sub-tropical regions like coastal Queensland. And when La Niña takes hold as the prominent atmospheric phenomenon, constant heavy downpours are guaranteed.
But rain is good for your grassy lawn, right?
Only to an extent. While intermittent sprinkles keep it fresh and moist, a heavy soaking results in an unsightly muddy mess. If you’ve got kids or pets, you better believe they’ll track soggy soil right through the house.
Artificial grass won’t create a mud bath, no matter how hard it may rain. Its permeable polyethene fibres let water seep through the surface towards the soil below. Meanwhile, the upper layer remains entirely mud free.
5. Easy maintenance
Looking after turf means more than just mowing the lawn. You’ll need to undertake a slew of tiresome chores to keep your grass looking slick, from weeding to fertilising and edging to watering.
All those menial tasks will take a chunk out of your precious free time, which you could be spending with family or friends instead.
While artificial grass isn’t entirely maintenance-free, it’ll occupy a fraction of the time. All you need to do is rake away leaves or debris and occasionally sprinkle the surface with silica sand.
The lifestyle advantages of a low-maintenance home are difficult to overstate. When you hear your neighbour toiling away with the lawn mower each weekend, you’ll realise you made the right choice.
6. More pet friendly
Dogs have an ingrained habit of digging holes in your lawn, whether to bury a bone or ward off boredom. Moreover, their urine creates unsightly stains on natural grass through a phenomenon known as lawn burn.
However, your four-legged friend will find it impossible to dig through artificial grass, and its territory-marking endeavours won’t leave permanent stains. A simple hose down is enough to wash excess urine away.
Of course, you’ll still have to pick up after your pooch. But by sprinkling on some pet infill, you can minimise the odour until you get a chance to clean up.
Pet infill is a potent deodoriser made from naturally occurring elements like sodium aluminosilicates, hydrated calcium, and potassium. The child-safe compound absorbs ammonia and inhibits bacteria to neutralise smells.
7. Budget-friendly
While artificial grass costs more to install, it works out cheaper in the long run.
You won’t have to buy and maintain a lawnmower, nor purchase petrol to fuel its ongoing use. Forking out for big bags of fertiliser and weed killer will become a thing of the past, and you’ll notice a substantial reduction in your quarterly water bill.
Furthermore, homeowners who hire gardeners can reduce their expenses significantly. Alternatively, you could instruct your helper to focus on sprucing up the flower beds or hedges instead.
These combined savings mean it’ll only take a few years to break even on your investment. And from that point on, you’ll reap the ongoing financial benefits of laying a hassle-free artificial lawn. That leaves you with more money in your pocket to spend on the things you love.
8. No more allergies
Grass allergy is a common condition affecting thousands of people around Australia.
Tiny particles of grass pollen nestle between the blades, which can enter the body through the face. These invasive pollens cause allergic rhinitis, also known as hay fever, which can result in itchy eyes, a sore throat, and a runny nose.
While it’s not a life-threatening condition, fresh grass causes continuous discomfort to anyone with an allergy. The problem becomes particularly prevalent when you mow the lawn as the grass becomes airborne and itch-inducing pollen floats through the air.
Thankfully, the solution is simple. Install an artificial lawn.
9. Handles high foot traffic
Got a problematic, high foot traffic area on your lawn?
If you lay down turf, you’ll soon find it becomes a trampled mucky mess. Natural grass simply isn’t designed for high foot traffic areas—there’s a reason people erect signs saying “keep off the grass.”
While you could install pavers or a pathway, that entails a significant amount of hassle and expense. Besides, not everyone will respect your efforts; many will walk all over the lawn anyway.
Artificial grass, on the other hand, is custom-designed for high foot traffic with minimal maintenance. Case in point: tennis and five-a-side soccer courts use the stuff to withstand constant heavy movement.
10. Avoid dirt patches
Natural grass will flatten and die when cumbersome objects sit on top. Everyday items like trampolines, fire pits, and lawn furniture are heavy enough to create unsightly dirt patches. These ugly splotches can take months to grow back.
But with artificial grass, the blades spring back to their original stature once you move these objects out of the way. No more stressing about wrecking the lawn every time you entertain guests outside.
11. Environmentally friendly
While natural grass might seem like an eco-friendly option, think about all the resources its maintenance entails.
For starters, lawn mowing burns fossil fuels, which releases unnecessary carbon into the atmosphere.
What’s more, watering the lawn drains our limited reserves. During long, hot summers—when regular sprinkling is inevitable—you need at least 20 litres per square metre each week to keep your lawn alive. In reality, most homeowners consume much more than that.
Then you’ve got the risk of runoff when poisonous fertilisers trickle into our delicate waterways. The widespread extraction of potash fertiliser is not without its own environmental issues, too.
Aside from manufacturing a modest amount of polyethene, artificial grass has a minimal environmental impact.
Install an artificial lawn with Enduroturf
If you’re interested in installing artificial grass in your home or sporting complex, get in touch with the team at Enduroturf today.
The family-run business has been helping Australians find durable, cost-effective landscaping solutions since 2004. While many competitors use inferior offshore products, Endurorturf is one of the few providers to boast the “Made in Australia” logo.
With offices in most major Australian cities—Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Toowoomba, Gold Coast, Cairns, Geelong, Townsville and Tasmania—there’s a simple, cost-effective landscaping solution near you.