Artificial grass advice
Practical answers from more than 20 years of fitting artificial grass in Irish gardens, downsides included.
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Artificial grass for dogs: smell, cleaning and drainage
Artificial grass works well for dogs because there's no mud and no brown patches. To stop it smelling you need a free-draining base, prompt pick-up and a regular rinse of the spots your dog uses. Kennels and runs on concrete also need a fall on the slab and, where needed, drainage holes.
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Artificial grass on graves
Deep-pile artificial grass fitted inside the kerbs keeps a family grave green and tidy all year, with no weeding. Before anything is fitted, check with whoever runs the cemetery (the local authority, the parish or a committee), because rules differ and some sections don't allow any covering at all.
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Artificial grass vs real grass in Ireland
Artificial grass suits Irish gardens where a real lawn struggles: shade, heavy wear, dogs, mud or no time to mow. A real lawn is cheaper to put down and better for wildlife, and it stays cooler underfoot in the sun. Which is right comes down to how you use the space and how well the artificial lawn is laid.
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Can you lay artificial grass on concrete or decking?
Yes, artificial grass can be laid on sound concrete, paving or decking, and it's a quick way to soften a hard yard or patio. Drainage depends on the surface having a fall and, where needed, drainage holes drilled through it. A foam shock pad underneath makes it softer and hides small bumps.
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Does artificial grass drain in Irish rain?
Yes. Artificial grass has a perforated or permeable backing, so rain passes straight through into a compacted stone sub-base below. How well it drains in practice depends on that base and the ground under it, so gardens on heavy clay or low-lying ground sometimes need extra drainage.
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How long does artificial grass last?
A good-quality artificial lawn that's properly installed and looked after should last many years. As a reference point, the UK's Football Foundation expects a well-maintained 3G football pitch, under far heavier use, to last 10 to 12 years. How long yours lasts depends mainly on the grass quality, the groundwork, how much wear and sun it gets, and basic care.
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How to clean artificial grass
Most artificial grass only needs leaves and debris cleared regularly, a brush against the pile every few weeks and a rinse with the hose now and then. Dog areas need rinsing more often and an occasional pet-safe enzyme cleaner. Keep harsh chemicals, metal rakes, close-up pressure washing and anything hot away from it.
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Is artificial grass bad for the environment?
It has real environmental downsides: it's made from plastic, it isn't a habitat and it eventually has to be replaced. The EU microplastics restriction targets loose plastic infill on sports pitches, not garden lawns, which usually have kiln-dried sand or no infill at all. Used where a real lawn struggles, with planted borders kept around it, the impact can be reduced.
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Get a free quote and free samples
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