Artificial Grass FAQs for the Armchair Expert

Righto! So you are considering having artificial grass installed. Let’s face it – it’s a major investment which will transform your lives beyond the front and back porch and quite possibly bits and pieces in between.

It is a belief that such a decision must not be taken lightly so, therefore, it important to do the research required so you are better informed to as what suits your needs best.

Of course, the friendly Eco-Lawn team is only too happy to assist but sometimes it is best to approach a matter being a ‘tad informed’ so you can team great advice with what you learned.

A series of regularly asked questions have been thrown together to help with the arming of oneself with knowledge and quite possibly feel somewhat closer to being an expert without having left the comfort of your recliner.

Feel free to meander through the questions or simply pick the ones out pertinent to one’s individual circumstances.

Enjoy!

Will Artificial Grass catch fire?

Fire and hot objects (Dad’s infamous charcoal snags need not apply) should be kept away from artificial grass. With normal use, you don’t have to worry about your artificial lawn catching fire.

Eco-Lawn supplies high-quality artificial grass that uses a synthetic material that does not burn. The eco-lawn grass is infilled with a layer of sand which not only prevents a fire from spreading but will extinguish it.

Should weed matting be laid beneath the crushed rock and then compacted? Would this process tear it?

Due to the super strong backing system on the high-performance artificial grass lawn which Eco-Lawn offers, it forms a final layer of protection against weeds which means matting is often not required.

However, if the house is near a source of weed pollens weed matting can be laid beneath the crushed rock as extra protection against weeds.

Can I install artificial grass on top of my existing lawn?

In a nutshell no unless of course, you wish to considerably shorten the lifespan of your investment in order to cut corners in order to save a little money.

• It’s just asking for a higher chance of weed growth
• Potential drainage issues
• Incomplete lawn death resulting in real grass within the artificial
• A surface like the aftermath of a mole invasion
• A lawn that could potentially fizz rather than “Pop”

Can artificial grass be installed on different surfaces?

Of course! As long as the surface is properly prepared. Artificial grass is versatile and can spruce up any surface from blah to bold.

• Soil
• Cement
• Brick
• Wood
• Plastic (Creative creations for the artsy fartsy)
• Butynol

What are the benefits of stadiums with Astroturf?

By jingoes! That’s a generic trademark of any artificial grass of yesteryear.

These days it is called artificial grass or synthetic turf depending on where in the world you are. Modern artificial grass or decadent artificial field coverings if you like are far more superior and more like its natural counterpart than what passed as being artificial grass when it first made its debut as an alternative option.

But to answer the question:

• Stands up to heavy use
• Doesn’t need watering
• Due to the structure of stadiums there is a difficulty of getting enough sunlight through (or too much in places) to maintain the optimum amount of light and warmth for natural grass to stay healthy.
• Consistently reliable surface

How can I lay artificial turf in my backyard?

The Eco-Lawn team strongly recommends that they professionally install your carefully chosen artificial grass for you in order to ensure the best result and longevity of your lawn.

But for those die-hard do-it-yourselfers or those merely interested please feel free to peruse further…..

1. Locate and get rid of hazards both above and underground.
2. Remove existing material for example grass, large rocks, roots anything that is going to get in your way.
3. Remove approximately 70mm of soil and organic matter.
4. This step is very important to the stability of the artificial grass. The Eco-Lawn team uses gap7 aggregate which is essentially crushed rock to us mere mortals (and available in their store) to a level of 80mm.  Compact this to approximately 70mm to meet individual design and drainage requirements.
5. Put down a layer of shock absorbent soft fall underlay tiles – optional but gives your lawn bounce! And provides a critical fall height rating of up to 1.8 metres when combines with Eco Standard.
6. Lay Artificial Grass
7. Cut grass to shape required using a craft knife or carpet shears
8. Seam seal the joins using joining tape and adhesive
9. Secure the grass around the perimeter with ground pins approximately 250-300mm apart.

Ta da! If done correctly you should have lovely flat grass-scape to be proud of however if it resembles a teenager’s face shortly after puberty a few choice words are permitted to colour the air before contacting the professionals for advice!

Why is artificial grass so expensive?

Being suddenly faced with a somewhat eye-watering upfront cost would make it seem quite pricey after all it isn’t a cost that creeps up on you like natural lawn maintenance.

One needs to offset the costs of such maintenance against the cost of artificial grass. As once professionally laid has a lifespan of easily 10 years with little maintenance and still looks brilliant no matter what season you are in.

• Low maintenance so throw away the fossil fuel guzzling lawn beautification implements and all the trappings of such use. Frisbee that bag of fertilizer, boot the herbicide and gift the grass seed. You don’t need it!!!
• Low maintenance means your precious time is now your own. Clawback that delicious downtime.
• A decrease in water usage.
• Don’t have to pay someone to maintain your herbaceous finery (aka the lawn)
• Don’t forget the hidden costs like the flea and tick treatments due to the use of natural grass, pet bath products required due to those oh so tempting puddles or the excessive laundry product use due to the offspring’s fixation on all things dirt! Home cleaning products from the outdoors becoming one with the indoors and the control of the winged or otherwise beasts of the insect world.

Is artificial turf safe for a home garden?

We can counter a question with a question ‘Is it dark at night?’. Of course, it is at least in New Zealand so, therefore ‘Yes!’

• Chemical, toxin and lead-free
• A clean allergy free environment for the ankle biters
• Shock absorbing properties to improve fall safety
• Waterproof so no blips on the landscape of perfection that could create a trip hazard

How do you stop a dog from digging up artificial grass?

For a dog, it is all about the delectable smells, anything that makes that moist, black nose waffle with delight. Most dogs will stop digging once that wonderful soil aroma is gone. For the more dedicated diggers, behaviour correction should eventually stop this acquired behaviour.

We are considering installing an artificial lawn but confused to as what the right synthetic grass is for us?

The highly competent Eco-Lawn team are there to tailor your lawn to your lifestyle and needs with a range of grasses to suit every lifestyle and demand whether it may be fastidious or broad.

Some points to ponder would be:

• Colour – May wish to choose a shade which is similar to the local natural grass
• Thickness – the thicker the pile, more hardwearing. Wide Leaf 40mm, for instance, is the hardest wearing product in our natural looking grass range, perfect for schools and childcare centres.

Should I let my existing lawn die before removing it to install artificial grass?

Yes, you can but it merely adds time to the process. The idea is to rip it up quick! The best way to do this is to use power equipment to cut under the turf and slice into strips leaving a blank canvas before leveling before the installation process can begin.

Why to install artificial grass over concrete?

• Simple! To have a beautiful lawn in areas which are concrete jungles of the urban backyard.
• Artificial grass makes these areas look ‘pleasing to the eye’.
• Better traction than concrete so less chance of doing a face plant.
• Around wet areas, it doesn’t get slippery.
• Artificial grass does not discolour as a result of chlorine from pools.

Is artificial grass good or bad for the environment?

It is important to acknowledge that the production of artificial grass is energy intensive the choice of a good quality product such as those that are provided by Eco-Lawn is important as a replacement isn’t required for a good decade or more.

The used artificial grass can be then recycled to extract the plastics from it which is turned into pellets to create a variety of plastic materials.

From the maintenance point of view the less water used, no toxic herbicides or use of fossil fuel powered garden implements is certainly better for the environment.

Not to mention decreasing CO2 emissions from the lawnmower and other tools used for backyard beautification.

There are less chemical runoff and contamination which is highly toxic to animals and insects with the potential to wipe out local eco-systems.

What do I need to consider in choosing the best artificial grass for my garden?

• Budget
• How is your back/front yard used – to relax, rough and tumble, games to exhibit ones budding sporting prowess?
• Who will use the yard? You may need to consider child and pet-friendly options
• The look and feel of the artificial grass you most prefer

Is artificial grass or real grass better for playing sports on?

Sports fields take a hammering. Yes, they need to look good to a point but the wear and tear as a result of sports are unforgiving and the grass has to withstand the needs of multiple teams and activities.

Sporting clubs cannot afford to have fields out of action due to damage caused during the normal course of sporting activities (although the club rooms surrounding adult sports may not be whingeing) which is why artificial grass can help fulfill this need.

• Natural grass cannot remain lush and resilient if it is getting a regular thumping by those who use it.
• Natural grass is not all weather and is susceptible to normal seasonal changes which can bring low rainfall and times of low growth prompting your precious playing fields to rival Grandma’s patchwork quilt.

What are the advantages of artificial grass?

• Water savings
• Your lawn will still look great all year round
• Doesn’t require costly maintenance to thrive
• Cuts back on time to maintain
• No backyard bities
• No puddles or hidden surprises
• Available for use at any time – there are no ‘out of bounds’ here

How does artificial grass cope with flooding?

Let’s face it. Without customers, there is no business so it is Eco-Lawn’s business to supply quality Australian made artificial grass to their valued customers. It is not a solid plastic surface that resembles a fluffy swimming pool lining it is like a natural lawn that lets the water run through it.

Drainage holes built in to allow water to pass easily through.

Holes are on the underside only so they don’t spoil the Eco-Lawn look.

Sticking to high-quality artificial grass that not only looks great but will not give any flooding issues.

What is the life expectancy of our artificial grass?

All our products come with a warranty of 10 years.

Expected lifespan to be around 20-25 years dependant on:

• Wear and tear
• How it is looked after

How do I maintain my artificial turf?

Weekly: Lightly rinse down to remove dust and other small debris

Monthly: Use a flexible lawn rake to remove leaves and other annoyances.

Groom your lawn by using a broom. Brush against the grain to encourage each blade of grass to stand to attention!

Regular light maintenance prevents your investment from matting and compacting in places.

Is artificial grass safe for our pets?

Of course!

Using the following steps will help keep your artificial grass still looking great even after the heaviest of pet usage.

• Remove steamers by usual method
• Hose down area
• To ensure your pet’s favourite urination area stays odour free spray at least once a week with an enzyme-based anti-bacterial spray (can be purchased from Eco-Lawn).
• Eco-Lawn will shortly be stocking turf deodorizer which will help avoid unfortunate lawn odours with quick regular treatments of the area.

Can artificial grass be folded?

It is not recommended as this will damage the grass. Always roll up and don’t fold or crease.

What are the uses of artificial grass?

• Putting greens
• Backyards
• Sports fields
• Playgrounds both indoor and out
• Businesses
• Dog runs/Kennels/Doggy daycare
• Balconies
• Gyms
• The limits of your imagination…

Where can I get the best artificial grass service?

Well, that’s a no-brainer! Eco-Lawn of course! Call our friendly team on 0800 002 648. Or visit our showroom located at 343B Church Street, Penrose, Auckland.

Where can I look for artificial grass on-line?

https://www.ecolawn.nz for all of your artificial grass needs.

Is football grass real or artificial?

There is a trend towards football grounds using artificial grass due to its durability and other benefits in order to keep the field in a playable condition which natural grass cannot often guarantee.

Can artificial grass be used in a kennel?

Most certainly can. That’s a big yes.

• Slip-resistant
• Through the regular application of the enzyme spray stocked by Eco-Lawn, it is resistant to bacterial growth and therefore all things pongy
• The backing is porous and coupled with excellent drainage to allow for regular irrigation to wash away the odorous nasties.

What are the pros and cons of artificial grass?

Advantages:

• Low maintenance
• Savings of water and lawn maintenance tools
• No fertilisers or herbicides
• No adding to pollution levels or affecting environment on an ongoing basis
• No weeding
• Long lasting, no hassles of replanting
• Excellent drainage – dries quickly
• No puddles of water or mud
• General use will not damage grass
• Perfectly manicured at all times
• Fewer injuries
• Durability ensures usage at any time

Disadvantages:

• Upfront cost can be prohibitive
• If rubber cushioning used it may require occasional refilling
• Can become hot in summer
• Does not offer the special scent of wet earth and grass or the sweet smell of a freshly mowed lawn.

What costs are there to put in the artificial grass?

• Depends on product selected
• Distance of site from our warehouse
• Access to site
• Complexity of the job

The costs largely vary depending on individual needs. Please contact our friendly Eco-Lawn team on 0800 002 648 for your free quote.