One of the most popular garden features in recent years is decking. It’s a great for creating different levels or balancing out uneven surfaces as well as creating communal areas for entertaining. Artificial grass goes great with decking for a number of reasons so if you’re thinking about updating your garden, and are considering both artificial grass and decking, take a look at some of our installations to get some inspiration as well as a few top tips…

Pros of Artificial Grass and Decking

No trouble mowing in between tricky angles and up against edges. Basically you can have your decking whatever shape you want, and the same for fake grass!
Low maintenance garden all year round. Artificial grass takes a bit of a brush every now and again, just like decking needs a sweep!
No mud on the decking!
Artificial grass can also be laid on top of decking if you want to soften it up.

Things to consider when choosing decking

Softwood, hardwood or composite decking? Softwood is cheaper but must be pressure treated and cuts definitely need a coat of end grain sealer. Hardwoods are more expensive but have better stability and durability. Composite decking is a material that moulds together plastic resin with wood and wood fibres. It has a longer lifespan than regular wood, and does not absorb water. This means it does not get slippery when wet or encourage fungal growth.
Check whether you need planning permission – decking 300mm (1ft) off the ground and covering over 50% of a garden will likely be refused.
Bear in mind what the weather is like where you live! Consider the effects of rain, or sea air to your potential choice of decking.
Is it for entertaining, for public or private use? Will trees and bushes provide enough privacy? Might it be a good idea to invest in some lighting?
Who will be using it? Adults, elderly, children, pets? Might it need balustrades to support those climbing up and down? Will a small animal be able to cope with the distance between ground and decking surface?