Top Of The Grass!

 Artificial grass gets a bad rap in the mainstream media from those who don’t understand its benefits over and above real grass. There are a number of different circumstances in which fake grass provides both good quality, quick-fire results for that immediate wow factor, as well as long-term, maintenance-free benefits for your customers.

These areas can be small external areas such as roof gardens and terraces; play areas in schools and nurseries; landscaping in and around commercial buildings; awkward, difficult-to-reach patios; outside seating in a bar or restaurant.

It’s not the cheap, sticking plaster you’d expect

Synthetic grass has come a long way quality-wise over the last decade or so. Once upon a time, it may have been a cheap alternative, cut according to needs off a roll in store. Today, there is a variety of options that can be selected according to need, from a good quality standard range to the more expensive, top-of-the-range variety - and these options look so realistic you would never know it was fake grass until you got up close and personal.

The Artificial Lawn Company does have one significant piece of advice for the trade. “Never go for the cheapest option.” said director Neil Sweeting. “A low-grade fake lawn product does not have the same durable properties as its better quality, more established varieties. It will degrade much more quickly and end up costing more in the long term.”

Although more expensive than laying real turf, once laid there are minimal maintenance requirements, and the grass will not be prone to wear and tear in areas of particularly busy footfall traffic. In fact, all ALC lawns come with a standard 10-year guarantee and have been proven to last up to 15 years – longer than a good carpet in your home. Plus, it doesn’t go out of fashion!

“Artificial grass is not there to replace real grass but as a viable alternative in the right circumstances.” commented Neil Sweeting, director for Artificial Lawn Company. “As a material, it has been in existence since the 1960s. Research and development have ensured that manufacturers embrace the use of recycled materials, advanced production techniques, and superior performance. There’s a reason why Google searches for artificial grass increased 185% month on month in the spring of 2020 – there continues to be a real demand for a product that is a low maintenance alternative to grass, without compromising on the aesthetics.”

A versatile alternative for landscaping

This summer has been one of unusually hot temperatures. Gardens and lawns around the UK are parched and yellow. The unusually hot weather we are having is turning our small island into a tinder box. For those who have opted for a synthetic lawn, their outlook is as green as the day it was laid. Hosepipe bans will not affect the overall aesthetics of an artificial lawn, and, although it may get dry and dusty in the heat, a once-over with a damp brush will spruce it up with no recourse to excessive water usage.

Embracing the ‘indoor outdoor’ culture

One legacy of the Covid age is that the UK has developed a more ‘outdoor’ culture when it comes to al fresco eating and drinking – in fact, we are positively European now (just with a pint glass rather than a litre one). In the hospitality industry, temporary legislative changes were brought in to make it quicker, easier and cheaper for businesses to get a licence to serve food and drink on pavements and pedestrianised roads. This summer, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has extended this legislation until it becomes permanent next spring.

As a result, more and more town and city centre hostelries are looking to establish semi-permanent indoor/outdoor areas, which automatically increase their commercial footprint, giving them the opportunity to recoup the massive losses they made over the last couple of years. Artificial grass is the ideal material for creating those al fresco dining ‘zones’, particularly in more urban areas.

These areas experience heavy footfall from both customers and staff alike, so a high-performing durable ground covering will give a much higher return on the establishment’s initial investment. Additionally, in an area where food and drink are being consumed – and spilt – the ability to clean and sterilise the area on a daily basis is important. A quick spray down with warm water and detergent will bring the al fresco zone back up to scratch in minutes.

Roof terraces, patio areas, awkward corners – with a little bit of imagination, better understanding the versatility, durability, and applications of a good quality artificial lawn can significantly extend the portfolio of solutions in outdoor (and in some circumstances indoor) refurbishment and renovation projects.

In schools and nurseries, artificial lawns are commonplace for play areas. As well as its ability to withstand the constant testing of little feet, there are no repercussions for those kids who have allergies or hay fever. Additionally, the area stays clean and mud free throughout the winter months.

“Used responsibly, artificial grass will continue to play a major role in providing floor coverings for a wide variety of uses,” concluded Neil Sweeting. “Every year, the world’s top dog breeds give us their seal of approval at Crufts – so much so that we have given them their own variety – the Pedigree Lawn!”