Grass plays a central role in your home’s overall appearance and functionality. It’s the first thing people notice, can provide functional space for your family, and will leave a lasting impression on any visitor’s mind.

When it comes to deciding which type of grass is best suited to your home, there’s very much two schools of thought; Real Turf Vs Synthetic. Each one has its pros and cons and the final decision will be largely dependent on lifestyle factors that are applicable to you.

Here at Hi Quality Turf, we’ve been in the turf business for more than 45 years. We’ve put together this blog to help our customers better understand the differences between real turf and synthetic and determine which will be the best fit for their home.

Definitions

Let’s start by going through the details about what each option is composed of.

Real turf refers to natural grass varieties that are the result of in-depth research and intensive breeding programs that have created a range of grass varieties suited to the Australian climate.
These modern natural turf varieties have been bred to be hardier, insect and disease-resistant, and to have lower maintenance requirements.

The blades of synthetic grass are composed of polyethylene material (a common form of plastic) and consist of nylon or polypropylene threaded onto a rubber mat. Synthetic grass has been designed to look as close to real grass as possible and comes in a range of blade heights, sizes and colours, and is infused with UV-resistant additives.

Look and Feel

Natural turf is the real deal, it’s natural, alive and contains a look that can’t be easily replicated. Most people appreciate the beauty of a well-kept natural turf surface.

You will notice a distinct difference between natural and artificial grass when you walk, play or roll around in it. Natural grass is soft underfoot and will feel cool to the touch. Whereas synthetic grass has been designed to look as close as possible to real grass. Dependent on the type, some can look quite realistic. In regards to feel, this is probably where the biggest difference lies, synthetic grass has a plastic feel and will warm up in the sun.

Suitability

Natural turf can be grown in a large majority of areas but is limited by conditions where there’s no proper irrigation or increased shade.

Natural turf is great if you have children and pets. It provides a safe environment in hot weather and with the appropriate care can take a beating from heavy use. Although animal waste can cause brown patches, it can decompose naturally as opposed to it becoming ingrained in the material like with artificial grass.

Artificial grass is a great option for people suffering from grass or insect allergies and can be pretty much installed anywhere. Even if there are uneven amounts of light and shade, it provides a convenient solution for areas such as a balcony or on decking.

Careful consideration does however need to be given to its intended use. Although it is quite tough, if it does sustain damage through heavy use, it can look quite tatty and be costly to repair.

Synthetic grass is also not the best choice if you have children or pets. On hot summer days artificial grass can heat up to a high temperature and not be pleasant to walk on. Additionally, since there’s no natural decomposition, any animal waste will need to be removed and sanitised regularly.

Cost

Depending on the variety, natural turf will cost anywhere between from $7 to $17 per square metre. Installation is pretty straightforward with some ground preparation work required, but if needed this can be done by a professional for an additional cost.

The installation of artificial grass generally costs between $75 to $150 per square metre. This is a significantly higher cost when compared to natural grass, and installation is recommended to be done by a professional as it involves laying out a base layer and applying a weed membrane.

Maintenance

A natural lawn has much higher maintenance requirements. It requires regular mowing, watering and the application of fertiliser. In order to ensure it looks good all year round, it’s also necessary to monitor for the presence of weeds, insects, and disease and treat the problem accordingly before it gains a larger footprint on the lawn.

Whilst synthetic grass doesn’t need the mowing or the same level of care as real turf, it isn’t completely maintenance free though, if it has been heavily used it does require brushing, grooming and refilling to keep it clean and to ensure that the grass blades stand upright.

Durability

Modern natural grass varieties are quite hardy and have been bred to withstand tough Australian conditions. As long as you follow a proper lawn maintenance schedule, they’ll continue to remain healthy and thrive for a lifetime.

Artificial grass is durable and is able to withstand a good level of use. With its low maintenance requirements, you won’t have to do much to keep it looking good. Quality artificial grass comes with a warranty and can last up to 15 years before it needs to be replaced.

The Environment

Natural grass has a number of benefits. It is environmentally friendly, produces oxygen, and absorbs carbon dioxide and other pollutants present in the atmosphere. It also attracts and sustains beneficial insects, filters rainwater, and assists in the decomposition of animal waste. Most importantly, if well maintained will last a lifetime and keep your property looking good.

Artificial grass on the other hand has a limited life span before needing replacing and is not environmentally friendly. It produces no oxygen and doesn’t absorb carbon dioxide. It’s manufactured from plastics containing petroleum-based products such as polyethene, polypropylene, and rubber. For the most part, it’s not recyclable and will end up in a landfill at the end of its useful life.

 

There are many factors to consider when choosing between natural turf and synthetic grass. Both have their own unique benefits and in order to make the right choice, make sure you assess what factors will be relevant to your particular location and lifestyle needs.

Remember to factor in; the look and feel, suitability, cost, maintenance, durability, and the environment. By assessing each factor and how it fits into your current and future needs, you’ll be able to decide which is just the right fit for your home and family.

We hope this blog has been informative. If you have any further questions don’t hesitate to contact the experts here at Hi Quality Turf. We have over 45 years of experience in the industry and can provide tailored advice to suit your gardening needs. With our very own turf farm, you can come to see and feel the living freshness of the many premium quality turf varieties we have on offer.

For any of your Lawn maintenance needs, why not contact us today?