Article
We install both artificial grass and real lawns, so we don’t have a reason to push you one way. And the honest answer is that neither is right for every garden.
Artificial grass solves some real problems brilliantly. It also has genuine downsides that sellers don’t always mention. Here’s the balanced picture, so you can decide what works for your garden, your family and your priorities.
What artificial grass does well
- No mowing. For people who can’t or don’t want to mow, this is the big one.
- Usable all year. No muddy patches after rain, which matters for families with young children.
- Copes with heavy wear. Small gardens with lots of foot traffic, or a dog that runs the same track every day, can wreck a real lawn quickly.
- Works where grass won’t. Very shady corners, under trees and some north-facing plots struggle to grow healthy turf. The RHS’s own chief horticulturist has acknowledged that some places, such as shady areas, aren’t suitable for real lawns.
Where artificial grass falls short
- It isn’t zero maintenance. Leaves, dirt and pet mess still need clearing, the pile benefits from brushing, and weeds can appear at the edges or in debris on the surface.
- It can get warm. In direct summer sun, synthetic surfaces can feel noticeably warmer underfoot than a real lawn.
- It’s plastic. That’s the biggest objection from the gardening world. The RHS banned the sale of plastic grass at its shows in 2018 and all artificial grass and plants from its shows in 2022, and the Society of Garden Designers runs a “Say No to Plastic Grass” campaign supported by the RHS and the Landscape Institute.
- It doesn’t support wildlife. A real lawn hosts soil life, insects and feeding birds. Artificial grass covers that over.
What real turf does well
The RHS’s head of environmental horticulture, Mark Gush, has pointed out that real lawns absorb carbon dioxide, produce oxygen, cool the air and provide a home for wildlife, especially insects.
Real grass also feels softer, smells like a garden, and can be repaired cheaply by reseeding or patching. A new turf lawn is usually less expensive upfront than artificial grass.
Where real turf falls short
- It needs mowing for much of the year.
- It can turn muddy with heavy use in wet months.
- It struggles in deep shade and on very compacted or poorly drained ground.
- It may brown in dry summers unless watered.
Side-by-side
| Artificial grass | Real turf | |
| Upfront cost | Higher | Lower |
| Ongoing upkeep | Brushing, clearing, occasional rinsing | Mowing, feeding, watering, weeding |
| Muddy in winter | No | Can be, with heavy use |
| Shade tolerance | Good | Poor in deep shade |
| Pets | Durable; needs rinsing | Can wear and patch |
| Wildlife value | Very low | High |
| Feel in hot sun | Can get warm | Stays cooler |
| Repair | Patch or replace sections | Reseed or re-turf patches |
Which suits your garden?
Artificial grass often makes sense for:
- Small, heavily used gardens, especially with children or dogs
- Deep shade where real turf has repeatedly failed
- Roof terraces, balconies and areas with no soil
- Homeowners who physically can’t maintain a lawn
Real turf usually makes more sense for:
- Medium to large gardens with decent light
- Anyone who values wildlife and a natural look
- Tighter budgets for the initial installation
- Gardens where you’re happy to mow
The middle way. Many gardens work best with a mix: real lawn where it thrives, artificial grass only in the problem area (a shady strip or a worn play space), and planting, gravel or paving elsewhere. You get practicality where you need it without covering the whole garden in plastic.
If you choose artificial grass, installation decides how it performs
Most artificial lawn problems come from what’s underneath:
- Excavation and a compacted sub-base, so the surface stays level
- Good drainage, so rain and pet urine pass through rather than pooling
- A weed membrane, to stop weeds growing up from below
- Secure edging, so the edges don’t lift or curl
- Neat, hidden joins between rolls
- Infill where the product requires it, to support the pile
Cheap installs often skip the sub-base or drainage. They look fine on day one and lumpy, smelly or waterlogged a year later.
If you choose real turf
Preparation matters just as much: good topsoil, levelling, and laying at the right time of year. Autumn is generally the best time to lay a new lawn.
Talk it through with us
Paveline Drives and Patios installs artificial grass and real lawns as part of our wider landscaping service across Bishop’s Stortford, Braintree, Saffron Walden, Chelmsford and Stansted. Where drainage is the real problem, our groundworks and drainage team can fix the cause first.
Get a free quote and we’ll look at your light, soil and how you use the garden before recommending either option.
FAQs
Is artificial grass good for dogs?
It’s durable and avoids muddy paws, but it needs regular rinsing and a well-draining base so urine doesn’t linger. Poor drainage is the main cause of smells.
How long does artificial grass last?
It depends on the product, how heavily it’s used and how well it was installed. Ask installers for the manufacturer’s warranty and what it covers.