Real Grass Vs Artificial Grass

Although attractive commercial landscapes capture the attention of many people, residential properties also require an organised, well-maintained yard. Homeowners who maintain their lawns year-round increase their aesthetic appeal. Despite their best efforts, landscaping services for a tarnished and dishevelled lawn aren’t worth investing in.

Lawn installation isn’t merely about aesthetics. Savvy homeowners also consider their long-term vision and lifestyles. Choosing fake grass or real grass is a personal decision that entails knowing the advantages and disadvantages of each option. This strategy will help you determine the type of grass that truly matches your property and lifestyle preferences.

Artificial Turf Vs Real Grass: What’s The Difference?

The real grass vs. artificial grass debate has been raging among homeowners for years. If you’re undecided between the two options, please consider the following factors.

Drought Toleration

Drought toleration refers to a plant’s survival capacity in oppressively dry, parched climates. Australia’s propensity to experience harsh droughts makes drought-intolerant plant maintenance challenging.

• Fake grass: One unique advantage of artificial grass is its survival without water. Homeowners will enjoy lush greenery and valuable peace of mind whenever there’s a drought or minimal water supply.
• Natural grass: Authentic grass needs water to survive. Homeowners face the daunting challenge of maintaining their water-deprived lawns during severe droughts. Alternatively, they can use drought-tolerant grass or build yards that need less water.

Shade Toleration

Shade toleration is a plant’s capacity to thrive in areas with minimal sunlight. Despite Australia’s recent droughts, the country experiences several thunderstorms during the wet season.

• Fake grass: Artificial grass doesn’t need sunlight to survive. However, it can retain more heat than its authentic counterpart. Hence, walking barefoot on artificial grass during the summer months from December to February isn’t ideal.
• Natural grass: Several authentic grass types can survive in areas with minimal sunlight. Zaysia is a grass species that thrives during the chilly months from June to August.

Foot Traffic

Foot traffic refers to the number of individuals walking through a specific area at a particular time. Heavy foot traffic may discolour or make your lawn bare. To ensure a long lifespan, we recommend selecting a grass type that’s consistent with your lifestyle.

• Fake grass: Homeowners laud synthetic grass for its durability. When it comes to the synthetic grass vs real grass debate, commercial landscapers usually prefer the former because it can endure heavy foot traffic.
• Natural grass: Zaysia and Kikuyu are real grass species with a high threshold for foot traffic. Hence, they’re ideal for homeowners who live active lifestyles and use their lawns frequently.

Safety

Safety is a critical factor for homeowners with children and pets. Choosing between real grass vs artificial grass boils down to safety considerations.

• Fake grass: Parents and pet owners will appreciate synthetic grass’ flatter surface and lack of dips and humps that increase the chances of tripping. However, we recommend practising vigilance against cheap artificial turf that produces toxic residue.
• Natural grass: Well-maintained authentic grass allows kids and pets to play and roam on a relaxing, natural surface. The downside: you must inspect real grass regularly to prevent pests from proliferating and damaging your greenery.

Maintenance

We strongly recommend regular yard maintenance to increase lifespan and remain in peak condition. Select a low-maintenance grass type that produces little to no issues over time.

• Fake grass: Some homeowners mistakenly think synthetic grass requires no upkeep. However, fake grass can accumulate dirt and dust if not maintained regularly. We recommend washing artificial grass surfaces with water to increase their longevity.
• Natural grass: Maintenance techniques depend on the real grass homeowners use for their lawns. They must water, mow, and eliminate weeds regardless of their preference to keep their yards scenic and picturesque. In some cases, homeowners must use fertiliser for optimum grass growth.

Living Area

Some homeowners convert their lawns into living spaces by placing furniture on the grass. Furniture, such as couches, beanbags, tables, or lawn chairs, require artificial grass because it can withstand pressure better than natural grass. Placing furniture atop natural grass results in bald spots that compromise your yard’s aesthetics.

Installation

Homeowners must consider two critical factors when installing artificial or natural grass:

• Ease of installation: Fake grass is easier to install than its natural counterpart because the latter requires meticulous soil preparation, seeding installation, and irrigation. Synthetic grass also requires fewer people to install.
• Installation speed: Natural grass takes significantly more time to install because it requires more complexities than the artificial version. Homeowners roll out the fake grass turf and use it shortly afterwards.

Toughness And Resilience

Whether choosing real or fake grass, your long-term goal is to retain your lawn’s lush, green, and picturesque appearance. Hence, toughness and resilience are critical factors to consider when weighing the real grass vs. artificial grass debate.

Homeowners save money and conserve energy with resilient turfs because they require low maintenance. Some people eventually use both synthetic and natural grass for their yards.

Artificial turf is tougher and more resilient than natural grass. People who prioritise long-term durability will benefit from using synthetic grass.

Surrounding Environment

We recommend considering the surrounding environment when weighing the pros and cons of fake grass or real grass. More homeowners are using the environment as a significant criteria in their decisions.

Here are some environmental questions to ponder when torn between synthetic grass vs real grass:

• What’s the prevailing climate in your town or city?
• How many seasons does your town or city experience annually?
• Do you experience frequent extreme temperature changes?

Regardless of your surrounding environment, artificial grass is the more durable choice. It also requires less water and no fertilisers or pesticides.

Oppressive Australian summers may melt synthetic grass despite its impressive advantages. Worse, homeowners must replace their lawn’s damaged section.

Cost

Depending on the artificial turf’s version, it may require higher installation and maintenance expenses. Homeowners who prefer natural grass purchase seedlings, significantly lowering installation costs. However, conventional grass maintenance requires lawnmowers, hoses, and sprinklers.

Sensory Appeal

Many people consider the smell of freshly cut natural grass therapeutic. Conversely, homeowners who prefer the artificial version will miss this feeling.

Fortunately, some manufacturers produce synthetic grass that mimics the smell of its natural counterparts. However, it doesn’t perfectly imitate the scent of a freshly cut lawn.

Walking on natural grass also appeals to many people’s senses. Synthetic versions of these surfaces mimic that sensation.

Environmental Effect

Since fake grass is made of plastic, it has a tainted reputation among environmentalists. However, their advantages nullify their potential environmental effects.

Artificial grass’ resiliency and durability allow homeowners to enjoy their aesthetics for decades. Lower maintenance requirements also make synthetic turf appealing to many homeowners. They don’t have to worry about watering, weeding, and maintaining lawns with natural grass.

Suitability For Children And Pets

Children and pets love roaming around and playing on natural grass. However, using pesticides and fertilisers may be detrimental to their health. Playing on conventional turf can also stain their clothes or turf. Finally, soil or rocks found in natural grass can become safety hazards.

These potential safety consequences give artificial grass an advantage over its natural version. Some synthetic turf versions’ shock-absorbing layers make playing and frolicking safe for kids and pets. Some fake grass varieties have hypoallergenic qualities that give parents and pet owners valuable peace of mind.

Return On Investment

Synthetic grass has the advantage of a return on investment over the natural version. The former requires less maintenance and saves homeowners more money over time. Artificial grass also enhances your home’s resale value and aesthetics.

To conclude matters, homeowners must choose fake grass or real grass based on their lifestyles and preferences.

All Lawns & Gardens Yard Installation And Upkeep

At All Lawns & Gardens, we provide Australian customers with comprehensive lawn and gardening solutions, including lawn mowing services Gold Coast, hedges and pruning, rubbish removal, mulching and fertilising, landscaping, jet washing, gutter cleaning, and driveway resealing.

Please call us at 1300 158 929 during AEST business hours, Monday through Friday, to discuss your lawn and gardening-related concerns. One of our staff members will assist you immediately.