There’s something very refreshing about artificial grass which has homeowners all over the world riled up. Not only is it much better for the environment as compared to real grass, it’s a pet-friendly alternative for keen gardeners who want their lawn looking lush and green all year round.
There is something very interesting about modern artificial grass and how it looks extremely real. It’s a great alternative for places which have issues with water supply or have laws restricting watering lawns.
But with so many types of artificial grass available on the market today, with features ranging from color, length of grass blades, type of material and so on, it can be difficult to choose the best type of artificial grass for your lawn.
Different Artificial Grass for Different Lawns and Gardens
There are a lot of varieties when it comes to artificial grass. In fact, depending on the type of lawn you’re going for, you can get grass with variable blade length, variable colors and different material choices and more.
Essentially, homeowners have many options to choose from. It’s not just about getting a “one-size fits all” solution. It’s about getting a personalized and customized solution which suits your preference and the location it’s placed in.
There is a different kind of artificial grass for your personal lawn, pet-oriented lawn, golf course lawn, truck bed or playground.
So what’s the best kind of artificial grass?
Even though veteran artificial grass owners will argue some kinds of fake grass is better than the other; in reality however, it’s all about preferences.
Whether you’re looking for something oriented towards your children, or you’re a pet owner with dogs or maybe you want something softer to walk on. Whatever the case is, there are different types of grass for different use cases.
So, there is no “best kind of artificial grass”, it’s all about what kind of lawn or garden you want to have.
Types of Artificial Grass
There are quite a few materials artificial grass can be made up of; the material chosen can actually make a huge difference in the feel, durability and look of the grass.
1. Nylon Artificial Grass
This is the strongest type of artificial grass on the market. Nylon artificial grass can withstand heavy weight and high temperatures without falling or losing its original shape. However, the pile is stiffer than other offerings.
This makes nylon grass an ideal choice for many applications because you don’t have to worry about accidentally crushing the nylon grass or burning the grass from the sun.
Nylon artificial grass is a bit pricier than the other materials, hence it is used mostly for landscaping and for backyards.
Usually however, Nylon Artificial grass is used as a secondary thatch with Polyethylene and polypropylene grass in order to increase their stability. Nylon Artificial grass gives a lot of strength and structure to other kinds of grass because of its stiffness and strength.
Purely nylon artificial grass does not feel natural, it is a grass used when you need strength and rigidity, in places where usual grass would degrade much faster. However, this kind of grass will look amazing for a much longer time with little to no care required.
2. Polyethylene Artificial Grass
When homeowners want to install artificial grass in their houses, most people choose polyethylene products.
This artificial grass not only has an amazing bright green and rich texture, but also has a softer and natural feel than nylon. It is usually used to beautify the environment and sports fields such as football, rugby and baseball.
When used with nylon thatch, this artificial grass will withstand a lot of use and abuse, and will not appear to be worn or worn. Since polyethylene grass is non-porous, it will not retain the odor like nylon artificial grass.
This makes it an ideal choice for pet owners who don’t want to worry about the smell of the yard when their pets go out. In addition, all waste will be easily washed away between the blades of the artificial grass and limit the chance of bacteria growing in the yard.
3. Polypropylene Synthetic Turf
This is not only the Least expensive option for artificial grass. However, it is an option which is less durable than the rest of the offerings. Although it may seem like a big option for homeowners who are looking for a huge landscaping deal, it does not stand up well for people walking or playing.
If you need durable artificial grass, then you will need to choose another option, because polypropylene has an excellent texture and wears quickly.
In addition, it cannot withstand high temperatures like nylon and polyethylene, which means that if it is installed in a very hot place, its shape will not be well maintained.
This can result in an unnatural-looking lawn that has flat spots and deformed areas due to heat. Because of the soft roll it provides, some golfers do like to install one of its patches for home putting practice.
If you want artificial grass indoors or use it as a decoration in your home, polypropylene is a good choice to prevent extreme temperature fluctuations.
Artificial Grass Sizes
There are 3 commonly available sizes of artificial grass; short, medium and long. Each has its pros and cons and each comes with different functionality and purposes. The artificial grass you choose can depend on your requirements and the location where this grass is placed.
4. Short
Shorter than 30mm may make your artificial grass look less natural than choosing longer grass. However, even knowing this, the shorter options will bring some benefits and uses, which makes them a great choice for some people.
For a yard dedicated to dogs, a shorter stake will ensure that the grass is easy on its paws while still being strong enough to withstand its movement.
Another use for shorter piles is if you want to set up a green at home. Being able to choose the ideal height for you can ensure that you can put the rod perfectly without leaving the comfort of the house.
5. Medium
The average length of most artificial grass varieties is between 30 mm and 37 mm. This ensures that the pile has sufficient height to produce a complete and natural appearance, without the pile sinking to the point where it cannot stand independently.
Choosing piles within this range is likely to result in a yard you like, although you do need to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of long and short piles, depending on your use.
For a multi-purpose backyard where everyone can play comfortably without worrying about falling grass, anything between 30 mm and 37 mm is safe.
6. Long
If you want to buy artificial turf with length of the pile greater than 37mm, you must be careful, because the artificial turf will start to get heavier and look flat.
Although most people associate beautiful lawns with longer lawns, long lawns will look unnatural. The heavier the blade of artificial grass, the more likely it will become too heavy to stand up and lie down.
This is not an appearance that anyone wants and will greatly reduce the overall appearance of the lawn.
Type of Garden or Lawn
7. Turf for Pet Yard
Your dogs can tear up a real yard really quickly; artificial lawn is a great solution to wear and tear in your lawn. Also, you don’t have to deal with any kind of muddy paw prints in your house or on the porch.
If you’re going for artificial grass for pets, you need to get inlay which has great drainage in order to avoid any sort of drainage issues with pet excrement. It will also be more hygienic, less muddy and just as comfortable as real grass.
Since the grass doesn’t have to be cut and maintained as often as real grass, it’s a great plus point if you have a smaller dog who cannot play in the taller grass.
No holes in the ground, patchy or brown grass makes your lawn look beautiful all year round.
8. Children’s playground
Keeping our children safe is important and using grass that is child safe, non-slippery is important. One of the best ways to ensure your children’s safety is to install Artificial Grass.
The reason why Artificial grass is so beneficial for playgrounds is that it is safe, durable and a very soft surface for children to fall on. It also doesn’t naturally collect water, so it’s a relatively less slippery surface.
Artificial grass is easier to clean, doesn’t have issues with it getting muddy and can be a great way to keep children away from dirt and debris which is on the ground.
Whenever you want to install artificial grass in a children’s playground, getting modern fake grass which is free from any sort of lead is crucial. Most modern grass is already compliant with this industry standard.
9. Home Lawn
Artificial Lawn is extremely convenient for homeowners; the reason is simple, maintenance cost is minimal, it looks just as great as real grass, it has great drainage qualities, it’s easier to clean and it doesn’t get muddy.
Other than that, you don’t need to mow It or fertilize it. It’s less prone to insect infestation so you will be saving money on both insecticide and herbicides which can be toxic for humans and pets.
Artificial grass is perfect for homeowners that don’t want to spend money hiring a gardener to maintain the lawn, pay for trimming or have pets that can be destructive to real lawn. Essentially, it’s an effective solution to an age old problem.
Artificial Grass Features to Look For
10. Lead Free Synthetic Turf
While most synthetic turf you buy on the market currently will be lead free, this wasn’t always the case. Until 2008, companies were not compliant to use lead-free paints.
However, you should still keep an eye out for quality, reputable artificial grass makers to avoid any mishaps with lead.
Also, if you moved into a house that has artificial grass preinstalled, you should get it checked for lead; if it’s an older type of grass (early 2000s) it might be lead contaminated.
11. Easy Maintenance
While all kinds of artificial grass will have little to no maintenance required, some grass might be more fragile than other kinds. For instance, the polypropylene grass is much more fragile than Nylon or polyethylene grass; this means, it will require you to take extra steps to avoid it getting damaged.
You should also get nylon grass as secondary grass, since it increases the durability and reduces the worry for maintenance.
Grass should be easy to hose down and to clean up in case some substance that falls on top of it.
12. Pet-Friendly Fibers
Even though most modern synthetic grass is pet-friendly, you should choose grass that is lead-free and can withstand the destructive power of your dogs.
You should choose a grass that is polyethylene and backed up by a nylon secondary grass to give it rigidity. The inlay chosen should also be a material that provides good drainage to reduce bacterial buildup and is easy to clean.
13. Weather-Resistant
Weather resistance is a major feature that most homeowners want for their artificial grass lawns. Not all types of artificial grass will be weather resistant. You need to have some sort of nylon backing on in the grass, in order to make it more stable and durable.
Whenever you’re choosing outdoor grass, you need to keep weather resistance in mind. Do not go for Polypropylene turf, this type of material is made up for indoor decoration.
14. Withstand Heavy Foot Traffic
Artificial turf should be capable of handling heavy foot traffic; whether you’re talking about a commercial lawn or a residential lawn, it should be able to handle adults walking around on it and children running on it.
Polypropylene turf will wear down faster than other two types of artificial turf. Choosing the right mixture between polyethylene and nylon materials will give you the most durable and natural looking lawn.
If you’re choosing artificial grass for a commercial area, choosing a high-durability inlay and material is essential.
15. Elderly-Safe
If you’re looking to install artificial grass in an indoor environment with elderly, you need to consider getting a grass that is cushiony and has non-slip qualities as well.
With outdoor grass, you need to get a grass that has good drainage to avoid water collecting and making a slippery environment.
What Are Your Requirements?
Before choosing artificial grass, you need to answer the following questions:
- How big is your lawn?
- Is the lawn going to be used for playing games and running?
- Do you have children?
- Do you have pets?
- Do you want something super soft?
- Do you want something more rigid than usual?
- Is it a commercial or residential lawn?
- What material do you want?
Since artificial grass has a lot of personalization options, you can easily choose something that fits your needs.
How to Choose the Best Artificial Grass
1. Research
Before you end up getting just any type of artificial grass, you need to first understand the different materials that are used. Each material has different qualities and different levels of durability.
You need to consider your children and how much they play in the lawn, your pets and how large and active they are, your drainage situation among many other things.
Do complete research for both the artificial grass as well as the inlay and whether or not they fit your specific needs.
2. Compare features
As mentioned before, there are many different types of lengths, materials, types of inlays, etc. for artificial grass. You need to compare these features and weigh the pros and cons.
It’s important to make an informed decision when it comes to Artificial Turf; it will allow you to not only get the best end-product, but also get the something that will serve you well for the years to come.
3. Envision your Artificial Lawn and its Use
When it comes to choosing artificial lawn, much like any other investment, you need to understand how things will be years from now. Whether you would get a pet later, whether you would have children, whether you would have barbeques on it and more.
Envision the lawn and its future uses so you can have one good investment that will last you many years as compared to something that will become outdated a year form installation.
4. Make a Budget
While everyone wants to get the best of the best, not everyone can spend the money to get something top tier. There are a lot of budget options that can be just as effective and fit a homeowner or commercial owner’s needs.
Make a budget and try to stay inside it; you will definitely get something that is in your budget.
5. Hire Synthetic Turf Professionals for Installation
It might be tempting installing the artificial turf yourself, there are a lot of intricacies that are involved with installing it. For instance, you need to install the inlay, check for proper drainage, understanding the area of installation, and more.
Get someone who knows what they’re doing, so your investment will function properly and stay in good condition for the years to come.