Benefits of Natural Turf
The debate between natural vs artificial turf is always an interesting one, and is one (as natural turf suppliers) we admittedly may be biased about, but the benefits of having a natural lawn are undeniable.
From the increased aesthetic appeal and environmental benefits, a natural lawn offers a number of advantages that artificial alternatives struggle to match.
Aesthetics
When it comes to choosing a new lawn, one of the most important things to consider is how it’s going to look.
Nothing beats the look and feel of real turf - fine, soft blades of grass coupled with a lush green appearance makes for a lawn that’s the envy of your neighbours! If you’ve got kids or pets playing on your lawn, you can also be assured knowing that the soft feel of real turf is a great, bouncy base for increased foot traffic.
You can get natural variations in colour, texture and length from natural grass which helps make your green space feel well-rounded and authentic.
As the seasons change, your lawn will too, giving you a dynamic, ever-changing space.
Turf also offers more design choice, with the freedom to mow to your desired length or make your space your own with pathways or flower beds.
Plus, the smell of freshly cut grass speaks for itself…
Not only can we say that natural grass is the better choice, we can prove it too when our customers, both landscapers and homeowners, repeatedly choose us to supply them with our freshly cut Lancashire turf.
Check out some of our customer feedback photos below, or send your own into photos@onlineturf.co.uk!
Durability
Natural grass is more durable than you might think- it has a natural ability to self-repair, meaning it’s ideal for areas with lots of foot traffic or pet use as it can bounce back with ease. It’s a great choice for family lawns that will have children and pets using it, or for any sports areas that see a lot of play & action.
Turf can come in all different forms of seed mixes, most of which are resilient blends made up of a variety of seed types - each one possesses a different benefit that makes real grass super durable.
Perennial rye grass makes up most of the seed mix of our premium Rye Gold Turf and is commonly used for turf, lawns and sports pitches due to its hard-wearing and durable nature.
Its fibrous root system breaks up the soil, improving airflow and soil structure, allowing efficient nutrient intake to your grass.
It can also germinate rapidly and produce a dense, luxurious appearance so that your lawn can be both beautiful and withstand wear and tear.
Alongside increased durability, one of the more appealing qualities of real grass is its ability to withstand varying temperatures and weather conditions. Especially Rye Grass, which strives to maintain its deep green colour and persevere through colder weather.
With this in mind, we can confidently debunk the myth that real turf is high maintenance. On the contrary, a healthy, stable lawn can repair itself, meaning less work for you in the long run.
With real turf in your garden, you’ll be able to see your grass change with the seasons and strive to bounce back year after year.
Eco-Friendly Grass
Natural turf is great for both your garden and the environment as real grass has several benefits to your natural ecosystem.
Through photosynthesis, natural grass absorbs carbon dioxide and releases oxygen into the atmosphere. Grass blades contain a pigment called ‘chlorophyll’, which absorbs light and converts it into energy.
Through photosynthesis, grass also takes in carbon dioxide from the air through their stomata (pores) and converts it into oxygen which it then releases back into the atmosphere. This naturally reduces the levels of harmful carbon dioxide in our atmosphere and provides breathable oxygen to the humans, plants and animals that need it.
- Real grass also has the added benefit of filtering and purifying our air. Dust, pollen and other debris can get caught in the blades and trapped in the grass, naturally filtering the air.
- Natural turf can also absorb any unwanted pollutants like sulfur dioxide or nitrous oxide from the atmosphere when it converts the co2 into oxygen, storing it in the plant and stopping it from releasing back into our atmosphere.
- Having turf in your garden can also naturally help filter rainwater by slowing down the flow as it travels into the ground and through the root pathways. This reduces the amount of water on the surface of the garden, limiting boggy areas where water pools and instead filtering the water through the ground. This in turn helps the soil retain its structure and stability for a healthier garden.
Natural lawns are also vital for garden ecosystems, providing essential food and habitat for birds, insects, and other wildlife.
Having wildlife in your garden not only promotes increased biodiversity but can offer natural pest control and improved soil health.
For example, ladybirds are low maintenance beneficial bugs to have in your garden. They love dense areas of lawn and they can feed on aphids, insects, mites & other garden pests, making them a convenient and sustainable form of pest control.
Real vs Artificial Turf
Deciding between real and artificial turf affects both your budget and the look of your lawn, but one of the options has a clear advantage.
Firstly, buying artificial turf outright is much more expensive than real turf. As with all things artificial, you will need to spend more money if you want it to look as close to real turf as possible, so why not just opt for the real thing? As well as the initial cost saving, the long-term payoff makes real grass a money-saving choice. Not only can it increase your property value by having real turf, but a healthy, good quality lawn can last you for years if looked after properly.
Turf maintenance is easy, too - as long as you have the right tools, lawn care is a breeze.
If you’re keeping your lawn watered and mowing regularly in line with its seasonal requirements, your lawn will thrive. Lawn care can seem daunting initially, but some people like reaping the rewards of their efforts - it’s nice to spend time in nature and dedicate labour towards keeping your garden healthy and maintained.
It’s also important to note than artificial turf cannot be fixed with a simple bit of manual labour. It will need fixing by a specialist, whereas turf’s ability to naturally self-repair means that you’ve got yourself a low maintenance, long-lasting lawn.
One of the biggest appeals of artificial turf is how quick you can get results, but laying real turf isn’t as much of a time-consuming process as you might think.
Especially if you’re using turf rolls (rather than growing a lawn from seed) you can have a garden that’s ready to go in as little as 2 weeks in the right growing conditions.
Laying the turf is a breeze - As long as your ground is prepared correctly, it really is as simple as laying the turf rolls next to one another, watering them and giving the turf a week or two to root in.
Natural grass also has a cooling effect and helps keep your lawn at an acceptable temperature.
Artificial turf is well-known for becoming hot in summer, with temperatures reaching up to 50 degrees Celsius in summer.
Turf can be up to be 20 degrees cooler than bare soil and 31 degrees cooler than tarmac, so, if you’re looking for an aesthetically pleasing, safe lawn for your kids and pets to play on, real grass is the way to go.
The surface temperature of garden artificial grass can reach as high as 29.4-48.9°C
