Artificial grass is an excellent investment if you want to enhance the look of your outdoor or even indoor landscape. It is highly durable, long-lasting, and weather-resistant, requiring minimal maintenance even when exposed to extreme weather conditions. In addition, synthetic turfs are eco-friendly and non-toxic since they will not require fertilisers and other chemicals to keep a lush, green look or prevent weeds from growing and pests from inhabiting it.
The technology and materials used to create synthetic turf had advanced since the 1960s, when artificial grass was first used to replace natural grass pitch. Today, companies offer a wide range of artificial grass products made with various materials for different purposes and have different colours and features.
Hence, before you buy artificial grass, you need to consider various factors, such as:
Foot Traffic
The first thing you need to consider when getting artificial turf is the foot traffic in the area where you wish to install it. Foot traffic is the amount and frequency of people walking on the grass. For instance, you want to install artificial grass on your lawn, which sees heavy foot traffic; in that case, you will need a highly durable turf in the area. Artificial turf with better quality and durability can withstand a high volume of foot traffic.
Turf Type
The next factor you need to consider is the quality of the artificial grass. Generally, there are three types of synthetic grass, and each is made of different kinds of yarn: nylon, polypropylene, and polyethylene.
Nylon artificial grass is the most robust and most durable type of synthetic turf. It can withstand heavy weights and extreme temperatures, making it ideal for areas with heavy foot traffic. However, this type of artificial turf does not provide a natural grass feel due to nylon’s texture and stiffness.
Polypropylene artificial grass is the synthetic turf best used for decorative landscaping, installed in areas with light foot traffic. The thin and soft texture of polypropylene makes it unable to withstand high foot traffic and high temperatures.
Polyethene is the type of artificial grass preferred by homeowners who are installing synthetic grass at their homes. Turfs made with polyethene yarns provide high durability similar to nylon, but these feel softer and look more natural than nylon artificial grass.
Pile Height
Pile height refers to the total length of the grass blades, from the artificial turf backing or carpet to the tip of surface fibres. Synthetic grass products available in the market come in varying pile heights, ranging from 10mm to more than 50 mm.
The artificial turf’s pile height affects the overall look and feel of the grass. Synthetic grass with 16 to 27 mm pile height provides a neat finish but offers less comfort. In contrast, artificial grass with a pile height greater than 40 mm provides more comfort; however, longer grass blades tend to bend over time, making the grass look flat.
If you want a lush-looking artificial grass turf that provides enough comfort, go for synthetic grass with a pile height of 30 to 37 mm.
Pile Density
The pile density is another factor that you need to consider when buying synthetic turf. This refers to the number of grass fibres stitched to the turf’s backing and how close the fibres are. The more grass fibres stitched to the backing, the denser the artificial grass.
Similar to pile height, pile density affects the overall finish of the artificial turf. A denser turf can increase your lawn’s aesthetic appearance as the space will look more like it is covered with natural grass. In addition, artificial grass with higher pile density is more resilient and durable, making it a perfect synthetic grass option for areas with high traffic.
Colour and Shade
Artificial grass comes in various shades of green and beige. When selecting the artificial grass you will be installing on your lawn, it is best to choose a turf with different hues of green and some brown strands of fibre to make your fake grass lawn look more like natural grass.
Consequently, stay away from synthetic turfs that have grass blades or fibres in perfect green shades.
Infill and Backing
The turf’s infill and backing are two more factors you need to consider, aside from selecting the type and make of your artificial grass.
Infill is the material placed on top of the synthetic grass to keep the turf in place, hold up the grass fibres, and make the turf feel bouncy. The most popular infill materials used are rounded silica sand or rubber crumb. This makes the artificial grass appear and feel more like natural grass and protects the turf from heavy foot traffic.
Meanwhile, the backing is the material placed underneath the turf. Polyurethane backing is the better choice for areas that experience extreme weather changes as this material does not contract or expand, unlike latex which might shrink or expand by 5 to 10 mm.
UV Protection
When looking for artificial grass to install on your lawn, you need to ensure that it can withstand long exposures to extreme weather. To do so, look for artificial grass with ultraviolet (UV) stabilisers, which are substances used to prevent the fading of the synthetic grass fibres and the breakdown of backing materials caused by UV radiation.
Maintenance
Although it has been mentioned earlier that artificial turf requires minimal maintenance compared to natural grass, you still need to consider that conducting routine maintenance and care for your synthetic grass can increase its longevity.
In selecting the type of artificial turf you will install on your lawn, you must consider the amount of time you have to maintain it and the weather conditions in your area. Moreover, it is also best to understand that some artificial grass products will need more frequent care. It would be better to purchase premium quality turf than buy cheaper artificial grass, which will require regular maintenance.
Where to get artificial grass?
For premium synthetic grass solutions, you can always choose Easy Turf. We offer quality life-like turf suited to Australia’s harsh climate conditions and provide quality artificial grass installation for commercial, sporting, and residential landscapes. Contact us at 1300 475 499 or 1300 475 499 for your artificial turf needs, or request a quote from our website.
