realistic artificial lawns

How can artificial grass help save money and the planet vs natural grass? We investigate in our own way.

You can have artificial grass indoors – how different would that be? No, it’s not a typo and neither have we spent too much time in the sun! Your office, play area, school library reading area or even your home orangery/conservatory covered in our top-quality turf (artificial turf, that is) would certainly be a bit of a conversation starter – or conversation stopper, even! Why install fake grass indoors? You could enjoy the feel of the outdoors whatever the weather outside, mixed with a combination of both real indoor plants and fake ones, the only limit would be your imagination, and we love a challenge! Relax in a ‘garden’ that needs very little maintenance, is always heated to your preferred temperature, and you won’t have to dodge the showers! And, in most cases, installing our faux turf indoors is less complicated than one of the standard outdoor installations that Ecograss would undertake normally. This is because most indoor floors are level and will most likely only require clearing debris and making sure that the installation area is clean installing the shock pad (if required) to create a safer, softer experience. This would be advisable in the case of a play area or library reading area we would then lay your choice (we can help you choose a suitable product) of  faux grass, making sure that it’s a perfect fit lastly, we would inspect edges and joins, making sure that they were secure and able to withstand the rigours of the use expected of them. Which artificial turf should I lay indoors? Which type of artificial turf you lay in your indoor space depends on where/what the indoor space is, physical limitations (like doors, and passages), and what you intend to use that area for. Shorter fibre lengths will almost certainly…

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 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…

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…

With recent weather events, including severe and prolonged gusts of wind and deluges of biblical proportions, you’d be forgiven for wondering if your lovely artificial grass will withstand the winter weather and make it through the impending winter months unscathed, ready for use in the spring and summer of 2023. The good news is that, of course, you have nothing to worry about if you chose to have your artificial grass installed by the experts at Ecograss. The husband-and-wife team behind Ecograss have been supplying and installing artificial grass since 2009 when they started their journey in beautiful Cyprus. Relocating back to the UK in 2012, they filled a gap in the market, completing thousands of artificial installations for both domestic and commercial customers – in all weathers from Nottingham to Leicester and beyond. So, they know something about artificial grass and how it can easily survive climates from Cyprus to Coventry! There’s a story of artificial grass surviving a hurricane in Miami, Florida when everything else was flattened and damaged beyond repair, we kid you not. Admittedly, the installers did bear in mind that Miami is often struck by fierce tropical storms – we’re unlikely to be subjected to such forces in the UK – and prepared the ground (if you’ll pardon the pun) accordingly. If you’d like to read the blog post about the Florida hurricane and the artificial grass installation, here’s the link to the blog post (just so you know, this opens a link to an external website which is not the responsibility of Ecograss) Ecograss also factor in any environmental factors (such as gradients, proximity to other hazards etc) when they’re planning your artificial grass and garden installation. Aside from location, potential hazards and weather-related events, it might be that there’s a special need because…