Artificial lawn from Australian Outdoor Living.
Camera IconArtificial lawn from Australian Outdoor Living. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

The advantages of choosing artificial lawn for your garden

Sara FitzpatrickEastern Reporter

THERE is little doubt that artificial lawn is easy to maintain, freeing up time to spend with family and friends on the weekends – but is it the right option for your home?

Does it look too fake? And does it get too hot for the children and pets to enjoy in summer?

We ask Scott Gregory from Australian Outdoor Living WA the burning questions about opting for the fake alternative.

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Has the popularity of artificial lawn recently risen?

The quality and appearance of artificial lawn has come a long way in the past few years. No longer does it have that ‘Astro Turf’ look. Smaller block sizes, and quite often limited access to the rear of the home for a lawn mower man, make it a popular choice. No water, no fertilising and very little maintenance are popular reasons for getting it.

Does it get very hot and can this be avoided?

Artificial lawn, like all synthetic landscaping products, does get hot on very hot summer days. However, unlike brick paving or concrete, it cools off instantly with a quick spray from the garden hose.

What is your top seller in WA?

We sell two main varieties for landscaping: Augusta is a thin blade, couch style grass, and Savannah is a wide blade, buffalo style lawn. Both are of equal quality and popularity in Perth, with personal preference being the only deciding factor.

How is it installed?

70mm of existing sand and/or grass is removed before 70mm of the base material is brought in. This material compacts into a solid, yet water penetrable, 50mm-finished base. The lawn is then laid and pinned before about 8kg of kiln-dried sand per m2 is brushed into the pile. This sand ensures the grass is weighted down and does not shift. It also encourages the blades to sit upright, producing a more realistic look.

Lawn is one directional and must be laid in the one direction. Good quality artificial lawn has a shine, which protects the grass from the sun’s UV. The shine can be lessened by laying/rolling out the lawn from ‘house to road or house to back fence’ so blades are falling back towards the house.