Artificial Grass

In the UK we experience varying and unpredictable weather, and this can make maintaining a lawn a pain at times, with the wet summer we’ve just had, the grass has continued to grow, but it’s been hard to get out and cut the lawn as it’s always damp.

This is where artificial grass comes into it’s own. Having been around for quite a while, there are many styles now available. They vary a lot in the look, feel and quality and price.

So where did Artificial Grass start from?

Also known as Astro Turf, it originated in the United States and was patented by the Monsanto Company Inc. originally called “Chemgrass” and renamed in 1966 as Astro Turf.

Earlier versions of artificial grass were purely for decorative use and could not withstand sports or other uses. Later versions were built to be weather resistant and serve as a permanent outdoor artificial lawn.

Artificial grass was slow to take off in the UK, but it has been growing in popularity in recent years and gardeners are realising the benefits of a year round maintenance free lawn.

There are many benefits to having an artificial lawn, shaded areas for example where the sunlight never gets to. Or areas which get too much sun and it becomes dry. Children’s play areas, where the lawn would get lots of use and would slowly wear away or become dangerously slippery.

Artificial grass can be laid on almost any surface, therefore you could cover an old patio or worn decking, even soil where you’ve never had a lawn before. Just make sure that your base is level.

Is it easy to install this lawn?

Fixing the Astroturf down can be done in different ways, it can be either adhered to a surface with a bonding agent or placed onto a surface and dressed with either sand or rubber granules which will hold it down. 

If you have 2 lengths of the grass side by side, they can be joined with joining tape to hold them together also.