There was an amusing story* last week about how groundskeepers at a high school in the United States were so deceived by the realistic quality of the school’s artificial grass pitch they accidentally mowed it! This got us thinking at Trulawn about the quality of modern artificial grass and how it has become realistic enough to fool even the professionals! These days grass is far more sophisticated, with realism being one of the main concerns when it is manufactured. So what should you look out for if you’re after a realistic lawn?
1. Colour is probably one of the top factors when choosing grass.Once upon a time the only type of fake grass you could buy was the sort of fluorescent grass seen in green grocers, not necessarily the sort of thing you’d want in your garden or offer to clients if you’re in the business. Trulawn prides itself on offering quality grasses that look and feel as close to the real deal as possible. Our flagship product, Trulawn Luxury, has a pile height of 32mm, olive, dark and lime green colour blades and tan thatch. These specifications may not sound like much but they are designed to better reflect the complexity of nature. Look for grasses with more than one colour and a thatch if you want to add depth to a lawn.
2. Texture and feel goes hand in hand with appearance. What you can see, makes a big difference to how it feels underfoot. The presence of a tan thatch gives the grass more density so that it has that springy feel of natural grass. The yarn is also made of a plastic polymer that has a structure which is hardwearing but also allows for movement. This means it is durable but also springs back up when walking on it. Due to these reasons our grasses do not require sand infill, a benefit to customers who do not want a yearly maintenance fee of sand replenishment as well as a more natural finish.
3. Installation is probably the factor people most often forget.The most expensive, realistic artificial grass in the world would still look terrible if it wasn’t laid upon a stable draining base, or didn’t have a weed membrane underneath. The competency and experience of the person installing is extremely important if you want the grass to look as natural as possible. That’s why Trulawn always offer training courses to landscapers who would like to begin installing artificial grass and advice on our website about installation method for customers who would like to know more.
So there you have it. The top three things that make up a realistic lawn. You can take a look at our products here, to see a range of grasses to suit all sorts of needs. From those who prefer the longer, lusher look to those that want something short and tidy.
*You can see the full story here: http://www.si.com/extra-mustard/2014/09/03/high-school-grounds-crew-mows-artificial-turf
