Thanks to people like Greta Thunberg, our focus is being turned to the environment and how we, as humans, can affect it for good and bad. Artificial Grass and the environment, good or bad? It’s a good question because these days, we’re all a little more concerned about what we do, eat, and buy, usually in terms of our health and well-being. Like most things, artificial turf has its good points and its bad points – it would be naive to think otherwise – but does one outweigh the other? The downsides of faux turf? The first and most obvious is that, of course, there’s an awful lot of plastic goes into artificial grass, and there was a time when none of the component parts could be recycled. However, there’s been a lot of work done to reverse this, and for the most part, the work has borne fruit, although availability is limited. The parts are separated, and (for example) the plastic is ‘pelletised’ and made into other products. The other option you might consider is repurposing the fake grass that you no longer want. This is especially good because although the looks might have faded, the functionality of the ‘grass’ might still be good. Examples of repurposing artificial grass include: – dog or cat runs – cricket practice areas – play areas – other people’s gardens Last but not least, the use of artificial turf doesn’t support natural life or vegetation. You can obviously offset this by planting in other areas of your garden – using hanging baskets in areas where space is tight, for example. The ecosystem needs to be maintained as much as you possibly can, and Ecograss is happy to advise on matters like this when you ask us to look at installing an artificial grass…
Cleaning Your Artificial Grass
Cleaning Your Artificial Grass isn’t particularly difficult. Here are some pointers to help you. When Ecograss installs your artificial grass in your garden, playground or even your outdoor working space, it is intended to last. Of course, nothing lasts forever, and how long it will last is dependent on things like footfall (traffic), but there are things you can do to extend the life and looks of your faux grass. Debris on Faux Grass Dirt and debris can block your drainage system as well as make your garden/play/outdoor working space untidy – and nobody wants that! So, on a fairly regular basis, maybe weekly, pick up any loose debris, leaves or dirt – use a soft brush or rake if it’s easier for you. However, be gentle with the rake because if you’re too enthusiastic, you could cause permanent damage. Litter pickers (or grabbers) are great for this and can be bought fairly cheaply from Amazon, Wilkinsons or your local garden centre (these links are for your convenience and are examples – no endorsement is given or implied.) – your back will thank you! You can also buy artificial grass cleaner or use a mix of 50% water and 50% vinegar. Cheap as chips but not necessarily good for the ambience of your garden as the smell that’s left can be quite overpowering. If you can’t sit in your garden and admire your artificial grass, it defeats the objective of having the grass in the first place, but horses for the course, if you don’t mind the (temporarily) pungent odour, it’s effective and will cost pennies. Cleaning Spills & Stains on Artificial Grass Spillages should be cleaned as soon as possible. ALWAYS blot the spill or stain with a damp rag or kitchen roll – if you rub it, you…
How Artificial Grass Helped During the Pandemic
There can be no greater illustration of the human ability to adapt to change than during the pandemic – and artificial grass helped. Truly ‘shock & awe’, we got used to remote working, masks, Zoom meetings and NOT spending time indoors. Outdoors became the new outdoors, especially where permitted gatherings were allowed for work or pleasure. There were unsung heroes everywhere helping to make life more bearable but there was one that nobody really expected – or thought of, for that matter – our good friend, artificial grass. As companies, leisure businesses and the like reopened and got used to where who and how many people could gather, outside became, well, almost everything. To make their outside environment more palatable for customers, employees or delegates, artificial grass became the de facto covering for concrete yards, car parks or any other area that was utilised to increase space and provide a more aesthetically pleasing environment for social gatherings, meetings, conferences etc. In some quarters, synthetic grass, as laid by Ecograss, can cause some people to become a little bit, shall we say, sniffy. ‘It’s not real grass, it’ll look awful in a few months’ they’ll cry! The fact of the matter is that in a lot of cases, the faux grass will outlive its natural sibling and any usual warranty – if it’s installed by experts and basic care principles are followed. That translates into cost savings, year on year on year. And, it will keep its looks, come rain, shine, snow, hail, and whatever else Mother Nature can throw at it. You won’t really be able to say the same with certainty about its natural counterpart. Mud, bare patches, slips are all pitfalls of the natural version. In the current financial climate (the cost-of-living crisis here in the UK), any…
