Artificial lawn or real grass?
Even with a passion for gardening, sometimes keeping the garden and lawn in order can be a lot of work.
If you’re having trouble finding the time or energy to maintain the garden, there is a way to minimise the work. Artificial lawn has improved a lot in recent years, and it might be time to take another look at the benefits of artificial grass.
Whether you’re having health problems, or spending more of your time with the grandkids, taking lawn maintenance off your plate will mean you can take care of yourself and spend more time doing what you love.
Plus, you’ll still have a neat and beautiful garden.
Good-looking, nice-feeling grass
We all want that nice, lush grass, but even if we put maximum effort into our lawn it doesn’t guarantee it will thrive.
Real grass can be patchy, which can be pretty annoying to try and remedy. It can turn yellow and dry in summer, not to mention you may have to try and combat weeds like dandelions and bindi infestations.
The first thing you probably think of when you hear artificial lawn, is that scratchy, plastic stuff that fades over time and looks extremely fake. But there has been a lot of innovation in artificial grass, and as long as you know where to look, you can get quality artificial grass.
Companies like Australian Outdoor Living have artificial grass that is as natural feeling and looking as possible. It’s springy and soft, and it is specifically designed to last the summer without fading. So if you do install artificial grass, you will get many of the benefits of natural grass without the drawbacks or the hassle.
Caring for your lawn
Speaking of hassles, maintaining your lawn can be difficult and sometimes unrewarding. If you’re lucky enough to have grass growing evenly, you still have to shell out a lot to keep it healthy. You’ll need a lawn mower, which will have its own maintenance costs.
You’ll likely need a whipper snipper to keep the edges neat, fertiliser to keep it healthy, and then there’s your water bill. If you can’t mow your own lawn for whatever reason, you may be stuck paying someone else too.
If you’ve moved into a smaller unit, you may have only a courtyard with a smaller patch of grass, artificial grass might be more suited to such a small area.
Even with all the time, money and energy you put into your lawn, it may still look worse for wear. It can be unpredictable, and in a hot summer it can turn an awful yellow.
But an artificial lawn will look beautiful all year round, and the only maintenance it requires is a hose down every now and then. There are lots of online tools and resources that will help you design a backyard that will make the best use of artificial lawn.
Costs and savings
Real grass takes a lot of effort to maintain, and the costs of maintaining it do add up. And all of these costs are ongoing. But if you have artificial lawn installed it’s a one-time fee.
Yes, it is expensive, but you’ll soon realise that it will pay for itself, as you will no longer be forking out money for an expensive water bill or for help mowing the lawn.
With an artificial lawn you won’t need to exert yourself to care for it and you won’t need to dedicate some your monthly budget to it once it’s installed. You’ll be able to enjoy your backyard rather than straining to look after it.
It’s a big decision, but a great investment.
To find more great tips on gardening and design, please visit the Australian Outdoor Living website here.
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