Deciding between a natural and synthetic lawn

Artificial Grass vs Real Turf

This is rarely a close call once you know how you use the garden. A family with two dogs and a shaded north-facing plot has a different answer to a gardener with an open, sunny lawn.

Both have genuine advantages, and it is worth being honest about the trade-offs.

Artificial Grass work by Gardenscape in Essex

Cost and effort

Turf is far cheaper to lay. Its cost is in time and consumables — mowing through the season, feeding, scarifying, watering in drought and repairing wear.

Artificial grass costs considerably more upfront and almost nothing to run: brushing a few times a year and an occasional rinse.

Performance through the year

A real lawn looks best in late spring and can struggle in both drought and winter wet, especially on clay. Heavy use in winter creates mud.

Artificial grass looks the same in February as in July and is usable straight after rain, which is why it suits families and pet owners.

Environment and comfort

Real turf supports soil life, absorbs rainfall and stays cool. It is the better choice environmentally where it will genuinely thrive.

Artificial grass uses no water, fertiliser or mower fuel, but it warms in direct sun and does not support soil ecology. Retaining planted borders around it keeps a garden alive for wildlife.

Where real turf is still the right answer

Large open gardens with good drainage and light. Wildlife gardens where you want insects, worms and birds working the soil. Anyone who genuinely likes gardening and wants the space to change through the year. Also very hot south facing suntraps used barefoot by small children in July, where a real lawn stays cooler underfoot.

Where artificial grass wins clearly

Deep shade under trees or between terraces where grass has never established. Dog gardens. Small courtyards. Rentals and holiday lets where nobody is there to mow. North facing plots that stay wet from October to April. Anywhere the current lawn is more moss and mud than grass, which is most of the gardens we get called to.

The honest drawbacks of each

Artificial grass gets hot in direct summer sun, it does not support soil life, and at end of life it is a plastic product that needs proper disposal. Real turf needs constant input, floods in clay soil, and fails in shade no matter how much seed you throw at it. Both are legitimate choices; pretending otherwise is how people end up disappointed.

Frequently asked questions

How long does artificial grass last?

Quality turf, properly installed and maintained, typically gives many years of service with a long UV warranty on the yarn.

Does it get hot?

It warms in strong sun like paving does. Shade and a rinse cool it quickly.

Is it good for resale?

Buyers with families and pets often see it as a plus; keen gardeners may not. Keeping planted borders satisfies both.

Is artificial grass good for dogs?

Yes — pet-friendly grasses drain well and are easy to rinse clean, and dogs cannot dig them up or create muddy patches.

Is artificial grass cheaper than real turf?

Not upfront. Turf is a fraction of the installed cost. Over ten years, once mowing, feeding, watering and repairs are counted, artificial grass often works out level or cheaper, particularly on gardens that struggle.

Which is better for a shaded garden?

Artificial grass, comfortably. Turf needs light to recover from use, and in deep shade it thins out and gives way to moss regardless of feeding.

Can you take artificial grass up again if we change our minds?

Yes. It is lifted, the aggregate is dug out and topsoil is brought back in before returfing. It is a proper job rather than a weekend, so it is worth being sure first.

Weighing up your lawn?

We'll give you a straight view of whether turf would work in your garden.

Get lawn advice Call 07535 661664