8 min read

How to Tell Good Artificial Grass From Bad

Every supplier claims to sell the best artificial grass, and every sample looks convincing under showroom lighting. The differences that matter are printed on the back of the sample, not visible on the front, and once you know what the numbers mean you can rank any two grasses in about a minute.

Stitch rate and density

Stitch rate tells you how many rows of tufts are packed into a metre of grass. Higher stitch rates mean more fibres per square metre, better coverage of the backing and better recovery underfoot. It is the single most reliable indicator of quality because it is expensive to fake, more fibre costs more money.

Fold a sample back on itself. If you can see plenty of backing through the pile, it is thin. Dense grass barely opens up.

Decitex and yarn shape

Decitex describes the weight of the yarn, so a higher figure is a thicker fibre. Thicker fibres resist flattening. Yarn shape matters just as much: flat ribbon fibres crush and shine, while C shaped, S shaped, diamond or stem sectioned fibres have structural stiffness built in and stand back up after being walked on.

You can feel this. Press a sample flat with your palm for ten seconds and let go. Quality grass springs back almost fully. Cheap grass keeps the handprint.

Thatch and colour blending

The curled brown or olive fibres woven low in the pile are the thatch layer. They do two jobs: they support the taller fibres so the pile stands upright, and they break up the flat block of green that makes cheap grass look synthetic from an upstairs window.

Look for at least two green tones plus thatch. A single uniform green reads as plastic in daylight, particularly in winter when real gardens around it are muted.

Backing construction

Latex backing with punched drainage holes is the industry standard and works well for a normal family lawn. Full polyurethane backing is permeable across its whole area, is more dimensionally stable in heat and cold, and holds tuft lock better, which is why we specify it for pets and heavy use.

Tuft lock, the force needed to pull a fibre out of the backing, is the quiet spec that decides whether a lawn sheds fibres in year three.

UV stability and warranty wording

UK sunlight will not melt a lawn but it will fade a poorly stabilised one. Reputable grasses are UV stabilised through the yarn rather than coated, and carry a manufacturer warranty against fading measured in years. Read what the warranty actually covers, colour loss is common, flattening almost never is.

Judging a sample properly

Take samples outside. Showroom lighting flatters plastic. Look at them on the ground, from standing height and from an upstairs window if you can, since that is how you will mostly see your lawn.

Ask what the grass is being asked to do. A quiet ornamental front garden can take a longer, softer pile that would be the wrong choice for three children and a trampoline.

Compare samples in your own garden

We will bring a spread of specifications to your door so you can judge them in daylight, then price the one you actually prefer.

Arrange a sample visit View Artificial Grass 07535 661664

Frequently asked questions

Is a longer pile better quality?

No, pile length is a style choice rather than a quality measure. Density, yarn shape and backing decide how good a grass is, and very long piles often flatten sooner in busy gardens.

What stitch rate should I look for?

Compare like for like across the samples you are shown rather than chasing a number in isolation, but as a rule the denser of two grasses at the same pile height is the better buy.

Does more expensive always mean better?

Not always. Some price simply reflects a fashionable colourway or brand. Check density, yarn shape and backing type and you will spot the grasses that are expensive for a reason.

Can I see and feel samples before deciding?

Yes, we bring a range of samples to the site visit so you can compare them in your own garden light rather than under shop lighting.

Which grass do you recommend most often?

For a typical family garden a dense mid pile with a thatch layer and a permeable backing, because it survives real use and still looks natural from the house.