The abundance of choices can make selecting the right turf for your home or business feel overwhelming. Navigating the world of artificial grass involves understanding various features, specifications, and terminology. With so many options in appearance, quality, and pricing, it’s natural to wonder how to choose the ideal artificial grass for your specific needs.
To help you make an informed decision, we’ve developed this comprehensive guide for artificial grass. By the end of this guide, you’ll have all the knowledge you need to confidently select the perfect artificial grass for your home, dog area, playground, school, preschool or putting green.
1. Research
Start by evaluating the specific area where the turf will be installed. Consider factors such as:
• Foot traffic/will the space be heavily used?
• Drainage concerns?
• Will it be used by pets?
These considerations will guide you in identifying the key features required for your artificial grass, such as durability and drainage. Next, explore the available brands and products. Look for options like our hard wearing turf Hero for high-traffic areas, Envirofill for pet friendly antibacterial infill, or fully permeable turf that ensures efficient drainage. Reputable turf suppliers and installers should provide comprehensive details about their synthetic grass products to help you make the best choice.
2. Understanding Artificial Grass Terminology
Selecting the right artificial grass involves more than just picking a colour, it’s about understanding the key features that make each type of turf unique. To help you make the best choice, here’s a breakdown of essential terms and how Lifestyle Lawns’ advanced features like CoolTouch technology, Envirofill, and fully permeable backings set us apart.
Selecting the right artificial grass involves more than just picking a colour, it’s about understanding the key features that make each type of turf unique. To help you make the best choice, here’s a breakdown of essential terms and how Lifestyle Lawns’ advanced features like CoolTouch technology, Envirofill, and fully permeable backings set us apart.
• Density: Density refers to the number of fibers per square metre in the turf. Higher density means more fibers, resulting in a fuller, more robust appearance that can withstand heavy use. Lifestyle Lawns’ artificial grass is designed with high density to ensure durability in high-traffic areas like playgrounds, sports fields, and pet zones, providing a lush, consistent look year-round. **Tip:** Choose high density turf for areas that see a lot of activity, as it provides both durability and a more natural appearance.
• Pile Height: Pile height is the length of the grass blades, impacting the turf’s look and feel. Shorter pile heights (10-30mm) are ideal for sports and high-traffic areas due to their resilience. Medium pile heights (30-35mm) offer a great balance for general use, while longer piles (40mm) provide a luxurious, soft appearance, perfect for residential lawns. Lifestyle Lawns offers a range of pile heights to match your specific needs, ensuring both aesthetic appeal and functional performance. **Tip:** Consider shorter piles for functionality and longer piles for a lush, inviting look in less trafficked spaces.
• Yarn: Yarn refers to the fibers that make up the grass blades, affecting the turf’s feel, durability, and appearance. Lifestyle Lawns uses high quality polyethylene yarn for a soft, realistic feel that mimics natural grass. Our yarn incorporates CoolTouch technology, which keeps surfaces cooler on sunny days, enhancing comfort for pets and people alike. This technology sets our products apart from others that can become uncomfortably hot under direct sunlight. – **Tip:** For areas with high sun exposure, our CoolTouch yarn keeps your turf comfortable even on hot days.
• Infill: Infill is the material placed between the grass fibers, providing support, cushioning, and aiding in drainage. Lifestyle Lawns uses Envirofill, an advanced, antimicrobial infill that not only helps keep the grass blades upright but also offers added benefits for pet areas due to its antibacterial properties. Envirofill ensures a cleaner, safer surface that stands up to daily use. – **Tip:** For pet-friendly areas, our Envirofill infill is an excellent choice, providing a safe, clean, and resilient surface. Envirofill is exclusive to Lifestyle Lawns. Envirofill is superior to other infills like zeolite and kitty litter, which tend to trap urine and odours; with its advanced drainage properties and 16-year warranty, Envirofill ensures a cleaner, fresher, and longer-lasting turf experience.
• Backing: The backing is the layer that supports the grass blades and contributes to the turf’s overall durability. Lifestyle Lawns features fully permeable backings that promote excellent drainage, preventing puddles and water accumulation, making them ideal for areas with heavy rainfall or frequent cleaning needs. This backing technology ensures that your turf remains dry and usable, regardless of the weather. – **Tip:** Our fully permeable backing ensures superior drainage, ideal for keeping your lawn functional even after heavy rains.
• Subbase: The subbase is the foundation layer beneath your artificial grass, typically made from compacted crushed rock or sand. A well prepared subbase is essential for long term performance, ensuring stability and proper drainage. At Lifestyle Lawns, we emphasise the importance of a properly installed subbase to prevent shifting and ensure that your turf maintains its shape and functionality over time. **Tip:** Proper subbase preparation is critical for a smooth, stable, and long-lasting artificial lawn.
Conclusion Understanding these features—density, pile height, yarn, infill, backing, and subbase—helps you make an informed choice when selecting artificial grass. With Lifestyle Lawns’ advanced features like high-density turf, Cool Touch yarn, Envirofill, and fully permeable backings, you can enjoy a beautiful, durable, and low-maintenance lawn that’s perfect for any setting, from residential to commercial spaces and sports facilities.
3. Budget & Finances
While installing artificial grass may seem like a significant upfront investment, it’s essential to consider the overall value beyond the initial cost. Compared to natural grass, the long-term savings on water and maintenance can make artificial grass a cost-effective option, often recouping your investment within a few years. Additional financial perks of synthetic turf include reduced effort on mowing, weeding, and fertilising, as well as potential increases in property value and improved curb appeal.
What Characteristics should the Best Artificial Grass have?
Now that you’re equipped with all the essential information, let’s focus on the most important characteristics to consider when choosing the best artificial grass for your needs. Remember, there isn’t a single “best” product, the perfect turf varies based on where it will be installed and how it will be used. However, the key elements we’ll discuss below are fundamental and widely applicable across most installations.
1) Can withstand heavy foot traffic/usage. Keep in mind that while you’ll pay more for extra durability, artificial grass is one of those “buy it nice or buy it twice” purchases.
2) Looks lush and full. If achieving a lush, full appearance for your artificial grass is a priority, focus on features like pile height, thatch, infill, and density. These elements all contribute to the realistic look and feel of top-quality artificial grass products. Additionally, regular maintenance with a Power Broom or hand Broom will help maintain the fluffy, plush appearance.
3) Durable and Long Lasting. Artificial grass is exposed to heat, cold, sun, dust, and rain around the clock, so it’s important to choose a product designed to withstand your local weather conditions. The durable materials used in quality artificial turf can handle heavy foot traffic for years, requiring only occasional hosing and brushing for maintenance.
4) Resilient. The best artificial grass is crafted to resist matting and lying flat, with fibers that bounce back to an upright position after foot traffic. This resilience comes from both the structure of the fibers and the type of infill used. For our installations, we recommend using Envirofill or sand infill to ensure the turf maintains its natural look and feel.
5) Drainage. Our turf features a fully permeable backing, with no need for hole punches. There are two main types of turf backings or drainage systems: fully permeable and hole-punched. A 100% permeable backing allows water and pet urine to flow directly through any point in the turf, making it ideal for wet areas, lawns with pets, or spaces prone to flooding and pooling.
6) Realistic Colours. Our turfs are meticulously designed to replicate the look and colour of natural New Zealand grasses like fine fescue and rye. The advantage of modern synthetic turf lies in its ability to closely mimic different grass species, making it nearly indistinguishable from real grass.
7) Antimicrobial Properties. Our turf features antimicrobial properties, including Envirofill with added microbial protection, which is especially important for households with pets or children. Choosing turf with these properties helps prevent the build up of odours from pet urine, as well as germs and bacteria, ensuring a cleaner and healthier environment. Antimicrobial additives are incorporated during manufacturing, making our “Microbe Safe” backing an essential choice for maintaining fresh and hygienic outdoor spaces for your family and pets.
8) Reputable and Trustworthy Turf Installers. We collaborate with landscapers across New Zealand and are proud to be a trusted brand with 5-star Google reviews and decades of industry experience. Remember, even if you select the highest quality artificial grass, a poor installation can compromise the entire appearance of your landscaping. It’s crucial to choose a reputable and reliable artificial grass installation company with proven experience and expertise. Be sure to read reviews from multiple sources when comparing turf installers, and select a company that’s transparent and willing to provide comprehensive information about their turf products and installation process.