If you don’t have a traditional garden, you might think you can’t have grass. Well that’s not quite the case thanks to the fake stuff! It looks as real as natural grass, but of course won’t need watering or die because it’s made of plastic. If you have a roof, terrace, balcony or other unusual area that is need of a makeover artificial grass could make a real difference to you.
Pros of artificial grass:
- Durable surface for hard to reach outdoor areas
- Softer addition/alternative to hard paving
- Tidy length
- Low maintenance – a brush and sweep is all it needs (extra attention needed if you have pets)
- UV resistant against fading for 8 or 10 years (depending on grass)
- Can give areas a new ‘character’
Things to consider:
Do I want shock pad?
Shock pad is a spongey sub layer that is often installed in schools around play equipment to meet what is called a ‘critical fall height’. This is add to a bit of extra protections to a surface to avoid critical injury should a child fall. It is also used when installing in high areas because it adds a layer of cushion to hard surfaces, and it is also easy to transport.
Think about access
Bare in mind that there may be difficulty transporting grass to the area that you want to lay it. A roll of grass can be a heavy thing so if it needs to be lifted up a long distance it may require getting a crane, rather than two or three men having difficulty carrying it up multiple flights of stairs!
Ask how it is installed
You want the grass to be secure when it is installed. This may involve gluing or nails. Make sure you’re happy with this if it may affect the surface underneath.
Here are some examples:
Roof-top Garden
Fake grass is a really good way of adding a bit of softness to cold, hard roof top areas. This roof top in Tooting had a great view overlooking a golf course with the town buildings in the distance. By adding artificial grass it has transformed the place into a garden, with a far more welcoming place to relax among the treetops!
Roof-top School
This school in Plymouth had a raised, outside area between buildings that was used for travelling between classrooms but also recreation between lessons. It was posing a risk with loose paving slabs and had a generally depressing air about it so the school decided to revamp it with artificial grass. There is actually a layer of shock pad installed underneath this grass. It’s often used in hard to access or raised areas to provide a more cushioned sub base to the grass.
Terrace
In a lot of ways artificial grass is like an outdoor carpet, we even call the strands of grass the pile! Which is why it makes a good surfacing for terraced areas like this dining area at the PGA Championships at Wentworth Golf Course. It creates an extension of the outdoors inside and vice versa. It’s also pretty durable stuff, so can easily withstand shoes and even high heels.
And one more…
Decking
This is artificial grass installed on top of decking, alongside a traditional lawn installation. By the choice of the customer they are two different grasses, the one on the decking is of a slightly shorter height than that on the lawn. It’s a really great addition to the decking in this garden, offering a bit of fluidity between the two levels. It also extends the green of the overall garden, adding a bit more colour and light to the whole area.
