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.
Neither wins in every garden
A real lawn is cheaper to lay and cooler underfoot on a hot day, and it’s part of a living garden. Artificial grass wins where a real lawn struggles: heavy shade, constant wear, dogs, ground that’s waterlogged half the year, or nobody with the time to mow every week from spring to autumn.
We’ve been fitting artificial grass for more than 20 years, and we’d rather tell you straight when a real lawn is the better option. This is how the two compare in Irish conditions.
Side by side
| Real grass | Artificial grass | |
|---|---|---|
| Mowing | Regularly through the growing season | None |
| Feeding, weeding and moss | Ongoing, more so in damp, shaded gardens | The odd weed at the edges; moss in very shaded spots |
| Mud in winter | Common on heavy or worn ground | None, if it’s laid on a proper base |
| Drainage | Depends on your soil; clay can stay waterlogged | Drains through the backing into a stone sub-base |
| Look through the year | Can go patchy, yellow or bare | Stays green all year |
| Dogs | Urine patches, digging and muddy paws | Works well, with regular rinsing |
| Heat in direct sun | Stays cool | Gets noticeably warm |
| Wildlife | Supports insects, worms and birds | Not a habitat |
| Upfront cost | Lower | Higher |
| Ongoing upkeep | Weekly in season | Clearing and brushing now and then |
| End of life | Renews itself | Has to be replaced eventually |
When real grass makes more sense
Think about how you actually use the garden. A real lawn is probably the better choice if:
- you enjoy mowing and looking after a lawn
- the area is large and open, gets plenty of sun and drains well
- wildlife and a natural feel come first for you
- money is tight and the lawn is already in decent shape
A sunny lawn on light, free-draining soil, like a lot of the coastal gardens around Wexford, can be kept looking well without much effort. If that sounds like yours, we’d usually tell you to keep it.
When artificial grass earns its keep
These are the gardens where it makes most sense:
- Shaded gardens. Real grass thins out under trees and beside high walls and fences, and moss takes over.
- Heavy clay and wet ground. Inland, plenty of gardens sit on heavy clay that holds water and turns to mud through the winter.
- Dogs. The urine patches and dug-up corners go, and so do the muddy prints across the kitchen floor.
- Small gardens and courtyards, where getting a mower in and out, sometimes through the house, is more bother than it’s worth.
- Children’s play areas that get worn down to bare earth.
- Holiday homes and rentals where nobody is around to mow every week.
- Anyone who can’t manage a lawn any more, because of age or health, or just lack of time.
The downsides of artificial grass
It isn’t maintenance-free. Leaves need clearing and it wants a brush now and then, and anywhere the dog goes needs rinsing. It gets warm in strong sun, so on a hot day it’s not as nice barefoot as a real lawn. Insects and worms can’t live in it, and it’s made from plastic that will have to be replaced eventually. Our guide on whether artificial grass is bad for the environment goes into that in more detail.
The biggest risk, though, is a bad installation. Grass laid straight onto soil or old turf, with no proper stone base, tends to sink, ripple and puddle within a season or two. Most of the work in a good artificial lawn happens before the grass is even unrolled.
How a garden lawn is laid
Done properly, a typical garden goes like this:
- The old turf and soil are dug out, usually by roughly 75–100 mm, and taken away.
- A crushed stone sub-base, such as Clause 804, is spread and compacted with a whacker plate.
- A finer levelling layer of granite dust or sharp sand goes on top.
- A weed membrane is laid.
- The grass is cut, joined and fixed at the edges.
- Kiln-dried sand is brushed in where the grass needs it.
Rain goes straight through the perforated backing into the stone below. With the base done right the lawn will cope with Irish weather, and our guide to drainage in Irish rain explains why. There’s more on how we lay artificial grass in gardens too.
Which to choose
If your lawn is thriving and you enjoy looking after it, keep it. If it’s a mud bath for half the year, won’t grow in the shade or has been worn bare by the dog, artificial grass will very likely make the garden more usable, as long as it’s laid properly.
If you can’t decide, we’re happy to look at the garden and give you an honest opinion, along with a free quote and free samples. Get in touch and we’ll take it from there.
Frequently asked questions
Does artificial grass look fake?
Good modern grass mixes fibres of different shades and lengths, often with a brown thatch at the base, so it looks far more natural than the older products. We bring samples so you can see them in your own garden's light.
Is artificial grass cheaper than real grass?
Not at the start. Seed or turf costs less to put down, but artificial grass takes away most of the ongoing work and cost of mowing, feeding and reseeding. The comparison depends on how long you keep it.
Can I have artificial grass and still have a wildlife-friendly garden?
Yes, if you keep planted borders, hedges and pollinator-friendly plants around it. Artificial grass itself isn't a habitat, so it works best as one part of a garden and not laid wall to wall.
Does artificial grass get hot in summer?
In strong direct sun it gets noticeably warmer than a real lawn. In an Irish summer that rarely lasts long, and shade or a quick spray with the hose cools it down.
