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When artificial grass was invented in the s, there was only one brand and one product: AstroTurf. 

Since then, dozens of companies have sprung up offering hundreds of different types of artificial grass&#;so many, in fact, that shopping for fake grass for your home or business can be a bit daunting. 

There&#;s a surprising amount of information and terminology to learn when you&#;re shopping for fake grass. 

With all the different looks, grades, and prices, you may be wondering how to choose the best artificial grass for your location. 

We&#;ve created this complete buyer&#;s guide to artificial grass with our new customers in mind. 

By the end of this article, you&#;ll be equipped with all you need to know to confidently choose the best artificial grass for your home, playground, patio, or putting green.

What Are Your Artificial Grass Needs?

Artificial grass is far from a commodity. 

There are different types of turf made for specific uses and applications. 

This guide will cover the different elements of artificial grass and explain what you should be looking for in an artificial turf product.

How To Choose the Best Artificial Grass for Your Space?

Shopping for synthetic turf can be overwhelming, as there are so many brands, features, and products to choose from. 

Here&#;s a step-by-step guide on choosing the best artificial grass for your space.

1. Research, Research, Research

First of all, research the space the turf will go in. 

Will it receive a lot of foot traffic? 

Is it prone to puddles or standing water?

Is it in the sun or the shade?

Will it be used by pets? 

These questions and more will help you hone in on what features you&#;ll need in your artificial grass. 

Next, research the brands and products available. 

Turf distributors and installers should provide you with all the information you want about their synthetic grass products.

To assist with your research, you should check out the following blog posts:

2. Understand Artificial Grass Terminology

Who knew that fake grass could be so complicated? 

In this section, we&#;ll demystify all the specific terminology in the artificial grass world so you can interpret product specifications and find the synthetic turf that will be the best fit for your project. 

Yarn

Only three types of yarn are used in artificial grass: polyethylene, polypropylene and nylon. 

Polyethylene is the most commonly used because of its versatility and balance between durability, aesthetics, and softness. 

Polypropylene is typically used for putting greens and as a thatch layer on landscape grasses. 

Nylon is the most expensive and durable yarn material, but it&#;s not soft and is most commonly used for putting greens. 

Yarn comes in a variety of colors, thicknesses, and shapes to mimic specific species of grass.

Density

Also called stitch count, density is the number of blades per square inch. 

Similar to thread count in sheets, a denser stitch count signifies a higher-quality turf. 

Denser turf products are more durable and provide a more realistic artificial grass lawn.

Pile Height

Pile height refers to how long the blades of artificial grass are. 

If you need fake grass for a sports field, dog run, or other high-traffic area, look for a shorter pile height, between &#;  and &#;  inches. 

A luxurious, true-to-life look for a front yard is achieved by products with a longer pile height, between 1 ¼  and 2 ½  inches. 

Face Weight

Face weight refers to how many ounces of material per square yard a type of turf has. 

The heavier the face weight, the better quality and more durable the artificial grass is. 

Face weight does not include the weight of the backing material.

Thatch

Thatch is additional fiber with varying color, weight, and texture that mimics the inconsistencies of natural grass. 

Thatch often includes brown fibers that replicate the dying underlayer of grass beneath the vibrant green, growing one. 

If you&#;re looking for a synthetic grass product for your front or back lawn, a product with thatch will get you the closest look to the real thing.

Infill

Infill plays many roles in keeping your artificial grass pristine. 

It keeps fibers upright, acts as a stabilizer to prevent the turf from shifting, and makes the grass look and feel more realistic. 

Without infill, turf fibers would quickly become flat and matted. 

It also cushions feet and paws that walk on it, as well as protecting the backing from sun damage. 

Infill is made from a variety of materials, including silica sand and crumb rubber. 

Some brands come with antimicrobial, anti-odor, or cooling properties. 

Backing

The backing on synthetic grass has two parts: primary backing and secondary backing. 

Both the primary and secondary backings work together to provide dimensional stability to the entire system.

The primary backing is comprised of woven polypropylene fabrics that allow the artificial grass fibers to be tufted into the material in rows and facilitate seaming between artificial grass panels.

In other words it&#;s the durable material that the grass blades/fibers are stitched to. 

A good backing will resist stretching. 

The Secondary Backing is often referred to as the &#;coating&#; and is applied to the reverse side of the primary backing in order to permanently lock the tufted fibers permanently in place.

Together, the primary and secondary backing make up the back weight. 

You can expect to see a back weight above 26 oz. on a high-quality turf product. 

A decent back weight is a must for any installation area that will see heavy traffic. 

Color

Just as natural grass comes in a variety of colors, so does fake grass. 

High-quality artificial grass will include a number of colors to mirror the look of real grass. 

Choose a color that most closely mirrors the natural grass species in your area. 

Sub-Base

If you try to install artificial grass directly onto soil, you&#;ll get dimples and wrinkles as the soil expands and contracts during wet and dry seasons. 

So while it&#;s not an official part of your artificial grass, having a good sub-base is critical to a quality turf installation. 

The sub-base is a layer of compacted sand, decomposed granite, river rocks and gravel beneath the artificial grass. 

It acts as the foundation for your synthetic turf and needs to consist of the right materials to ensure proper drainage. 

3. Compare & Contrast Features

Now that you&#;re familiar with the terminology in the artificial grass world, you&#;re armed with the knowledge you need to compare the different fake grass products available. 

Here are a few specifications you&#;ll find on each synthetic turf product:

• Thatch Color
• Blade Shape
• Density
• Blade Height
• Drainage
• Antimicrobial Properties

Not all of these features are equally important, however, and the weight of each one will depend on the location and purpose of the installation area. 

Read on to know which features are the most relevant for your project.

4. Budget & Finances

An artificial grass installation can be quite a hit to your budget, but it&#;s important to look at more than just the sticker price when weighing how much you can afford. 

When comparing fake grass vs. real grass, the long-term savings on water and maintenance alone enable artificial grass to pay for itself in about three to five years.

Other financial benefits to synthetic turf include less hassle for mowing/weeding/fertilizing, increased home values, and boosted curb appeal. 

Many turf companies offer financing options to assist you in your investment in artificial grass.

What Characteristics Should the Best Artificial Grass Have?

Now that we&#;ve inundated you with everything you need to know, we&#;ll break down the most important characteristics to look for to find the best artificial grass.  

Keep in mind that there is no one &#;best&#; product&#;the ideal turf will be different depending on the installation area and intended purpose. 

However, the key elements we cover below are fairly universal. 

Different turf products will withstand differing amounts of useage and foot traffic, so choose one that will last through everything you will throw at it. 

Will your artificial grass host children? 

Or pets? 

If so, how many and how frequently? 

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. 

You don&#;t want to have buyer&#;s remorse in just a few years if the turf product you chose isn&#;t up to the job.

2. Looks Lush & Full

If a lush, full look for the grass is important to you, pay extra attention to pile height, thatch, infill, and density. 

Each of these elements add to the natural look of the best artificial grass products. 

Also, take care to maintain your synthetic turf regularly with a Power Broom for Turf Rake to preserve the fluffy, plush appearance of your grass and to prevent matting. 

To learn more, check out our detailed guide to Artificial Turf Maintenance.

3. Durable & Long-Lasting

It&#;s easy to forget that artificial grass is out in the heat, cold, sun, dust, and rain 24/7. 

Choose a product that has the features that will help it endure through the weather that is common in your area. 

Note that the materials used in making artificial turf are extremely durable and able to withstand high-levels of foot traffic for many years with only the occasional hose-down and fluff-up for maintenance.

4. Resilient & Springy

The best artificial grass is specifically designed to resist matting and laying flat. 

Turf fibers should return to an upright position when you walk across them. 

This is partly due to the structure of the fibers and partly to the infill that&#;s used. 

We recommend rounded silica sand infill and T°Cool&#;s Evaporative Cooling Infill in our turf installations. 

They keep the synthetic turf springy and cool, just like the real thing.

5. Drainage System

While you might not think about it in the showroom, a quality turf drainage system is an important consideration when choosing the best artificial grass. 

It&#;s important that water and pet urine are able to pass through your turf and into the sub-base below.

In order to do that, the liquids must pass through the turf&#;s backing.

There are two types of turf backings or drainage systems: 100% permeable and hole-punched. 

The 100% permeable backing allows water and pet urine to pass directly through any point in the turf. 

This drainage system is ideal for the wet areas of Texas near the coast, as well as lawns with pets or areas prone to flooding or pooling water. 

Hole-punched backing has drainage holes every few inches and is best for dry areas that seldom see excess runoff. 

We carry a proprietary hybrid drainage system called &#;DUAL FLOW&#; that is both fully permeable and hole-punched. 

6. Realistic Colors

The beauty of modern synthetic turf is not only how much it looks like natural grass but how closely it can mimic different species of grass. 

Take a close-up photo or (if your neighbor will let you) a small sample of grass from a neighboring lawn. 

Use this as a guide when choosing a color and texture of artificial grass for your lawn so you can be sure your lawn will match the surrounding ones. 

7. Antimicrobial Properties

If you have pets or children on your lawn often, you should strongly consider an artificial grass product with antimicrobial properties. 

In these products, antimicrobial additives are added during the manufacturing process. 

The antimicrobial backing found on Ideal Turf&#;s best artificial grass products, called &#;Microbe Safe&#; helps to prevent the buildup of odors from pet urine, as well as germs and bacteria, keeping your backyard denizens clean and healthy.

8. Reputable & Trustworthy Turf Installers

Even if you choose the best artificial grass product, a subpar installation can ruin the entire look of your landscaping. 

Choose a reputable and trustworthy artificial grass installation company that has experience and expertise in the business. 

Check out reviews from multiple sources when comparing turf installers. 

The company should be willing to provide you with all the information you want about their turf products and the installation process.

What is the Best Artificial Grass Available? 

Different artificial grass products are suited to different applications, so there is no one &#;best&#; artificial grass product or brand. 

To put it in perspective, if you tried to paint your home&#;s siding with chalkboard paint or to top your chicken parmesan with strawberry jam, you&#;d get a less-than-desirable result. 

It&#;s not that chalkboard paint and strawberry jam are bad products, but they are best when used for the intended situation.

Below, we&#;ll show you what type of turf products work best in specific applications.

The Best Fake Grass for Yards

One of the most common applications of artificial grass is in backyards. 

Key features to look for in the best artificial grass for your lawn are a high face weight and long pile height to ensure a nice soft ground cover that&#;s able to withstand moderate to heavy foot traffic.

We also recommend using a cooling infill (for little feet and paws). 

If you see a lot of heavy rain in your area, you should look for turf products with a fully permeable backing or our hybrid &#;DUAL FLOW&#; backing to allow for maximum drainage.

The Best Artificial Grass for Roofs, Decks & Patios

If your downtown apartment, deck or patio needs a little greening up, artificial grass is a great way to do it. 

Because it&#;s installed over concrete or other hard surface, the best fake grass for patios should have a fully permeable backing to allow for draining and deter mold from growing. 

Since a small deck or patio won&#;t see the heavy foot traffic that a yard would, you can afford to go with a short pile height.

The Best Artificial Grass for Dogs & Pets 

Fake grass for dogs has exploded in popularity in recent years as homeowners recognize the value of creating a dog-friendly backyard.

Whether you&#;re considering replacing your entire lawn or looking to build a dog run, the best artificial grass for dogs & pets should have a fully permeable backing to allow pet urine to pass through. 

We recommend using T°Cool Infill with dogs and pets because its antimicrobial properties will prevent the buildup of odors and bacteria, and the evaporative cooling will protect your pets paws.

Make sure you choose an infill that is non-toxic to pets.

A short pile height will also enable quick, easy cleanup of solid waste. (Read more about the specifics of artificial grass for pets here.) 

The Best Artificial Grass for Around Swimming Pools 

Many homeowners choose to install artificial grass around swimming pools.

The best artificial grass for around swimming pools will have a fully permeable backing to allow splashed pool water to drain away rather than puddle up and foster bugs and messes. 

Because of all the excess water, antimicrobial additives and a lower face weight are a good idea for artificial turf near pools or backyard ponds.

The Best Artificial Grass for Putting Greens 

For an at-home putting green, choose a short pile height, around ½ to ¾ of an inch. 

The best putting green turf products will have nylon fibers.

If you want to get fancy, you can choose two different pile heights to differentiate between the putting green and the fairway. 

When you have the site prepped for your putting green, make sure there are no rocks, rough spots, uneven areas, or debris as these will affect your golf game. 

Also, choose a high-quality infill to allow golf balls to roll consistently across the green.

The Best Artificial Grass for Playgrounds & Play Areas 

A fully-permeable backing is ideal for playground turf. 

The last thing you need in a children&#;s play area is stagnant water. 

Choose an antimicrobial product to reduce germs, odors, and bacteria. 

As for the fake grass itself, the best artificial grass for playgrounds and play areas should have a good thatch layer because it provides extra traction and cushion from falls. 

You can even get a base layer of foam underlay for additional padding underneath the artificial grass.

You&#;ll also want a product with a good face weight so it will be durable enough to withstand continual foot traffic. 

Regardless of what brand you choose, make sure the site is well-prepped to ensure there are no rocks or uneven areas beneath the artificial grass installation. 

This will increase the life of your play area and prevent injuries from trips and falls.

Wrapping Up How to Choose the Best Artificial Grass

There&#;s an artificial grass product to fit nearly every climate, use, location, and budget. 

But don&#;t be intimidated by the volume and variety of fake grass products. 

Once you know a few terms and features you&#;ll be well on your way to finding the best artificial grass for your space, whether it&#;s hearty turf for sports arenas or springy grass for your toddler&#;s playground.

If you&#;re interested in an artificial grass installation in Texas or Oklahoma City, please contact Ideal Turf today to get your FREE Artificial Grass Design & Installation Estimate by clicking &#;GET A QUOTE&#; button. 

We will assess the needs of your location and offer product recommendations for your specific situation. 

Feel free to give us a call at 800-204-.

The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Artificial Grass For Your Garden Lawn

 

 

Just five minutes of online research will inform you that there is now a vast array of artificial grass available on the market.

Goto Xinchengzhi to know more.

With such a wide range of manufacturers and products, choosing the best artificial grass for your garden can be a little daunting.

There are many differing attributes that you should be taking a close look at before making a purchase.

You&#;ll also need to consider exactly what you will be using your artificial lawn for.

So how do you know which type of grass will suit your needs? And what exactly should you be looking for when comparing artificial grasses?

Well, we&#;ve written this guide to help you take a closer look at exactly what goes into producing synthetic grass to arm you with the knowledge you need to make an informed decision.

A decision that will hopefully result in a fantastic artificial lawn that will not only look amazing, but also save you hours of maintenance work and last long into the future.

The key thing to remember is that it&#;s vital to look at more than just the aesthetics of artificial grass, as it&#;s dangerous to choose a product based on this aspect alone.

Of course the grass must look good, but it also needs to perform well to ensure a long-lasting, lush green lawn.

To avoid disappointment, we must take a closer look at the artificial grass in order to make a wise investment.

This guide has been written to help you choose the best artificial grass for your garden.

 

 

What Will Your Artificial Lawn be Used For?

 

This is a key question to ask yourself when choosing the best artificial grass for your garden.

There are many different types of artificial grass and they all have varying strengths and weaknesses.

This is because some are designed for different uses. For example, some grasses are manufactured to be hard-wearing, which usually means using a plastic fibre made from nylon (polyamide).

However, the trade-off here is that nylon is not quite as soft as polypropylene or polyethylene, the two other types of artificial fibre used in manufacturing artificial grass.

Nylon is also more expensive. Therefore, if your artificial lawn will get little foot traffic, choosing a lawn made from nylon fibres wouldn&#;t be necessary. It would, however, be the ideal choice for a family that spends lots of time in their garden.

There are generally five main types of usage for an artificial lawn:

1. Ornamental/show lawn &#; a low trafficked artificial lawn intended to improve the aesthetics of a garden whilst dramatically reducing maintenance.
2. Family lawn/play area &#; a heavily trafficked artificial lawn that receives high levels of usage all year round.
3. Pet-friendly lawn &#; a heavily trafficked area that will also need to handle urine and excrement.
4. Lawn for garden parties and entertaining &#; an occasionally heavily trafficked area able to cope with spillages and stains.
5. All-rounder &#; some or all of the above.

Naturally, each of the above types of usage requires different strengths and qualities in an artificial lawn.

Below you&#;ll find some useful information to help you choose the best artificial grass to suit your own individual needs.

 

 

Aesthetics

 

When choosing a fake grass for your garden, start by looking at the potential grasses from an aesthetic point of view. This is because it is, of course, extremely important that you choose an artificial grass that you&#;ll enjoy looking at and that improves the look of your garden.

 

Pile Height

Choosing a pile height is usually just a matter of taste.

For those that like the look of freshly cut grass, anything between 25-30mm is a good choice. For a natural looking lawn, we recommend choosing something between 30-38mm.

Anything longer than this and the fibres tend to lie flat under their own weight rather than standing upright.

There is some debate as to whether shorter piles are harder wearing.

In our testing we have found that shorter pile heights do perform better than longer piles in the long term for grasses manufactured using either polypropylene or polyethylene.

But with nylon artificial grasses, we haven&#;t noticed any difference between a 25mm and a 35mm pile in terms of performance. This is as a result of the hard-wearing nature of nylon.

 

 

Pile Density

Comparing the pile density of artificial grass is very important.

The greater the pile density, the more lush the grass will look.

Low pile density fake grass can look sparse and thin.

For heavy use areas, we recommend choosing a dense pile with somewhere between 16,500 and 18,000 stitches per square metre.

For ornamen tal lawns that receive low levels of foot traffic, you may want to consider a thinner lawn with somewhere between 13,000 and 16,000 stitches per square metre, as you will find this to be more cost-effective.

It&#;s also very important to consider the angles from which you will be viewing your artificial grass.

Typically, in the case of a garden you&#;ll be viewing the lawn from your house or patio, and also from above.

If you won&#;t be spending much time on your lawn you may be better off saving yourself some money and choosing a pile with fewer fibres as, from the right angles, thinner grasses have the illusion of looking thicker than they really are.

But for a balcony or roof garden, you&#;ll need to remember that the grass will typically be viewed from above.

This means that it&#;s very important to choose a dense grass, and ideally a specialist grass that has been designed specifically for roof gardens, patios and balconies, such as Tempo by NeoGrass.

Tempo is manufactured with a staggering 48,000 stiches per square metre.

If in doubt when choosing the best pile density, it&#;s advisable to go with something between 16,000 and 18,000 stitches per square metre as a good all-rounder.

 

Colour Choice

Like pile height, colour choice is entirely dependent upon personal taste. There is no right and wrong.

You&#;ll notice a wide range of colours when it comes to artificial grass and that&#;s because there are many differing shades of green found within real grass.

Many manufacturers offer free samples and it&#;s highly recommended that you take advantage of this before making any purchase decision as, unfortunately, you cannot rely on Internet pictures to get a true indication of the colour of your chosen artificial grass.

When choosing colours, it is vitally important to remember to place the samples where the turf will be laid; i.e., outside on your lawn.

This is because different lighting conditions will make the artificial grass appear different in colour. For example, your samples will look darker indoors due to lower levels of natural light.

Place your samples side-by-side on your lawn and compare the colours with your real grass. Many people prefer to choose a colour that most resembles their current lawn.

If your garden is sheltered and receives little sunlight, it may be best to choose a light coloured artificial lawn as it will brighten up your garden.

 

 

How to Choose the Best Quality Artificial Grass

 When searching for the best quality artificial grass, it&#;s vitally important to look at more than just aesthetic appeal.

When searching for the best quality artificial grass, it&#;s vitally important to look at more than just aesthetic appeal.

The following list of 11 questions will help you compare artificial grass in order to find the best performing product.

Before purchasing, find the answers to these questions by looking on manufacturer&#;s websites, datasheets, or by speaking with them directly.

 

 

1. What Type of Plastic are the Fibres Made From?

 

There are only three different types of plastic used to make artificial grass.

These are polypropylene, polyethylene and nylon (polyamide), with each having various strengths and weaknesses.

Polyethylene is the most commonly used type of plastic fibre, as it is generally a very good all-rounder.

Nylon is by far the strongest fibre utilised in artificial grass manufacturing. It&#;s up to 33% stronger than polyethylene and 26% stronger than polypropylene.

It&#;s also up to 40% more resilient than polyethylene and 22% more resilient than polypropylene, which are both softer fibres.

Nylon is naturally very hard-wearing, but the trade-off is that it is a more abrasive fibre than its two counterparts.

But it&#;s also more expensive.

The perfect mix of artificial fibre is for the lower thatch to be strengthened with the use of nylon fibres, which then work in conjunction with longer polyethylene fibres.

For low trafficked areas, choose a lawn manufactured entirely from either polyethylene or polypropylene.

For frequently used areas, nylon will outperform and outlast anything else, so choose a turf that incorporates nylon in this instance.

 

2. Is it Fire-resistant?

When choosing artificial grass it is very important to check with the manufacturer that it is fire-resistant.

In the highly unlikely event of fire, you&#;ll want to be reassured that the flames will not spread via your artificial lawn.

To check whether an artificial grass is fire-resistant ask your chosen manufacturer if they have any industry accreditations and also if they comply with European regulations.

Any flooring product manufactured including artificial grass can be assessed to meet Cfl-s1 in fire-retardant tests for fire-resistant flooring, according to UNE EN -.

Ensuring that your chosen artificial grass meets this criterion is highly recommended, as it means your lawn will not spread a fire should the worst happen.

 

3. Is it Tested for Harmful Substances?

You may have heard some stories in the media of artificial grass containing harmful substances, such as lead.

Unfortunately, in the past some of these stories have been true.

Substances such as lead can, of course, be extremely dangerous and have harmful effects on humans and their pets.

A good starting point is to choose an artificial grass manufactured within the European Union, as the safety tests and manufacturing standards are higher than those found in parts of Asia, including China.

For further confidence, it&#;s vitally important to ensure that any fake grass that you choose has been independently tested and verified against harmful substances.

The certification awarded by the Oeko-Tex, the textile industry&#;s leading independent testing and certification system, is designed to give consumers peace of mind that their chosen artificial lawn is free from harmful substances.

 

4.Where is the Grass Manufactured?

 

As we have briefly touched upon above, manufacturing standards vary throughout the world.

Fake grass produced in Europe is typically far better quality than that produced in China &#; a major player in the artificial grass industry.

When choosing an artificial grass, it&#;s vitally important to check where it has been manufactured. Speak directly with retailers to obtain the country of origin.

The best way to do this is to ask for a certification. If a retailer or manufacturer is unable to provide this, there&#;s a high chance the products may be manufactured outside of the European Union.

It&#;s relatively straightforward to spot an inferior artificial grass. The easiest way is to take a closer look at the backing and fibre thickness.

Thin fibres and the ability to easily separate the primary and secondary backing (because they contain lower quantities of latex) point towards poor quality synthetic grass.

We will be looking more closely at these two attributes of artificial grass below.

 

5. How Long is the Manufacturer&#;s Warranty?

 

It goes without saying, but clearly the longer the warranty, the better the product is likely to be.

However, it&#;s extremely important to check the small print.

Some warranties can be very vague and may not give the consumer much protection.

Be sure to look for a warranty that includes cover against UV stability and fibre loss.

UV stability protects against fading, whilst a warranty protecting against fibre loss will give you peace of mind that the fibres will stay intact, which, of course, is key to a lush looking artificial lawn.

Of course, no warranty will protect against damage caused by improper use or failure to maintain your artificial lawn.

To find out further details on maintenance and what constitutes improper use of your chosen artificial grass, speak directly with the manufacturer.

You may also find our article, &#;The Ultimate Artificial Grass Maintenance Guide&#;, useful to learn more about maintaining an artificial lawn.

You may be surprised to learn that there is maintenance involved with artificial grass, but unfortunately it is true and anyone who tells you otherwise isn&#;t being entirely honest.

Fortunately, however, the required maintenance is minimal and will take a fraction of the time required to maintain a real lawn.

 

6. How Good is the Backing?

 

A good way to check the quality of artificial grass is to look at the backing.

Artificial grass backing is made up of primary and secondary layers.

The primary backing is the layer of material that the plastic fibres of the artificial grass are stitched to.

The secondary backing used during the manufacturing process is typically made from latex. This is basically the &#;glue&#; that holds everything together.

With poorer quality artificial grasses these layers can separate due to low quantities of latex having been used.

It&#;s straightforward to test how good the backing of an artificial grass is simply by attempting to pull the layers apart with your hands.

The easier this is done, the lower the quality of the artificial grass.

It&#;s extremely important that high levels of latex are used, not only to prevent an artificial grass from separating, but also to prevent yarn loss.

Low quantities of latex mean that the fibres will easily separate from the backing, resulting in an artificial lawn gradually becoming thin and matted, and ultimately looking unnatural.

Check with the manufacturer to find out the anchoring resistance of their products. It should be able to withstand a force of 25Newtons, at a minimum.

 

7. How Thick are the Synthetic Fibres?

Synthetic fibre thickness is often overlooked when comparing artificial grass.

But it&#;s one of the most important factors to consider.

Natural looking artificial grass can only be achieved with upright fibres.

When the fibres of a fake lawn lie flat, we call this &#;matting&#;. Matting will result in an unnatural looking lawn.

One of the main causes of matting is thin fibres. Whilst your chosen artificial grass may look great initially, heavy usage will break down thin fibres quickly.

When comparing artificial grass samples, break off a fibre from each sample and compare fibre thickness. The thicker the fibre, the better it will perform.

Manufacturers should be able to give you information on the fibre thickness, measured in microns.

A fibre measuring 200/99 microns is considered very thick.

 

8. Is the Grass a Factory Second?

 

You&#;ve probably seen some very cheap artificial grass available on the market.

As with so many things, you really do get what you pay for. Cheap artificial grass will be made using poor quality materials and shoddy manufacturing techniques.

Another reason that some artificial grass is so cheap is that it may be a factory second or overrun.

Factory seconds will have some form of defect. This can be OK when choosing an artificial grass for an area that will rarely be seen or trodden on, such as down the side of a house or shed, but they should otherwise be avoided.

Most factory seconds will have lines running through the turf. This is due to a spool of yarn having a different dye and the error not being spotted by the machine operator.

Always ask manufacturers directly whether their products are factory seconds.

To be sure, ask them for a written agreement that the product they are supplying will not contain any defects. It&#;s also advisable to ask for copies of the warranty details.

But the big clue is the very low prices.

 

9. Do You Need Instant Recovery Technology?

 

The increase in research over the years to produce the best quality artificial grass has led to the development of some important technology that has improved both the performance and aesthetics of fake grass.

One of these developments has been Instant Recovery Technology.

If a synthetic grass has Instant Recovery Technology, it means that it has been manufactured with nylon (polyamide) fibres.

Nylon is the strongest and most resilient fibre used in the artificial grass industry.

It&#;s used to make parachute cord, fishing lines, tennis racket strings and, of course, the best quality carpets and rugs.

You can be sure that when you purchase a grass with Instant Recovery Technology you are getting a hard-wearing artificial grass that will stand up to foot traffic and heavy use from children and pets.

You can be sure that when you purchase a grass with Instant Recovery Technology you are getting a hard-wearing artificial grass that will stand up to foot traffic and heavy use from children and pets.

See the above section, &#;What Type of Plastic are the Fibres Made From?&#;, for further information on the hard-wearing nature of nylon.

Whether or not you need to choose a grass with Instant Recovery Technology depends on the expected usage of your artificial lawn.

Nylon fibres are far more expensive than its polyethylene and polypropylene counterparts.

If your lawn will be for ornamental purposes and will receive little foot traffic, then the additional cost would be unnecessary.

But if it will receive lots of use, then it&#;s worth considering a lawn with Instant Recovery Technology. The additional cost will prove to be a worthwhile investment that will result in a higher performing, longer-lasting artificial lawn.

For further information on the advantages of choosing a grass made from nylon please read this article.

 

10. Do You Need Feelgood Technology?

 

Another technology to consider is Feelgood.

One of the downsides of artificial grass used to be that during hot summer days, when the sun is beating down on an artificial lawn, the plastic fibres could become hot to the touch.

Feelgood Technology was developed to keep artificial grass cool.

The video below shows this in action.

Feelgood Technology enables artificial grass to stay up to 12 degrees cooler than standard synthetic grass.

Feelgood Technology enables artificial grass to stay up to 12 degrees cooler than standard synthetic grass.

It works by reflecting and dissipating the heat into the atmosphere; leaving your grass feeling as good as it looks.

If you intend on using your lawn during the summer months, it would be a good idea to choose a grass with Feelgood Technology.

For ornamental lawns it would be unnecessary.

 

11. Do You Need Natural Look Technology?

 

Natural Look, as the name suggests, was developed to ensure that the artificial grass looks natural from every angle.

Some artificial lawns can appear to be a different shade of colour, depending on lighting conditions and the angle that they are viewed from.

Some artificial lawns can appear to be a different shade of colour, depending on lighting conditions and the angle that they are viewed from.

This is because synthetic fibres are reflective by nature, due to their smooth, polished appearance.

This smooth appearance results in glare, making artificial grass looking lighter in colour from certain angles.

Natural Look Technology was developed to minimise this glare and ensure that your artificial lawn will look as natural as possible from every angle.

Choosing a grass with Natural Look will not be necessary in every situation, however.

For example, if your lawn will be placed at the bottom of your garden it will typically only be viewed from one angle, therefore making Natural Look unnecessary.

If, however, your lawn will be viewed from several angles on a regular basis, it&#;s highly recommended that you choose a lawn with Natural Look Technology.

 

 

Who Will Install Your Artificial Lawn?

 

The final thing to remember when considering artificial grass is that the quality of the installation plays a vital role in a long-lasting artificial lawn

You can have the best artificial grass on the market, but without a good installation, the grass won&#;t perform at its best.

We normally recommend using the services of a professional installer. A good place to start is to find your nearest NeoGrass Approved Installer [link].

You may find our article, &#;17 Questions to Help You Choose an Artificial Grass Installer&#;, to be a useful guide in helping you find a reputable installer.

The knowledge and experience of a professional installer will mean that they can tailor the installation to your individual needs.

For example, if you have a poor draining lawn, a professional will be able to advise on the best draining sub-base to install.

The installation techniques used when laying artificial grass on existing surfaces, such as concrete or decking, are different to those employed when installing fake grass to replace a real lawn.

A professional installer will be well versed in handling any situation.

However, with the right knowledge it is possible to install artificial grass as a DIY project.

If you are considering this option, check out &#;How to Install Artificial Grass&#;.

For a list of the tools you&#;ll need, click here.

 

 

Conclusion

 

Choosing an artificial lawn needn&#;t be difficult but, as you&#;ll have learnt from this guide, it&#;s extremely important to look at more than just the aesthetics of a fake grass.

You&#;ll need to think about the levels of usage that your lawn will be receiving and then take into consideration aspects such as type of plastic, fibre thickness, fibre density, etc., to ensure a high performing artificial grass that lasts long into the future.

There&#;s little point in spending large amounts of money on the best artificial grass if it&#;s unlikely to receive much foot traffic.

Likewise, if your family spends lots of time out in the garden relaxing, playing games or entertaining friends and family, it&#;s equally important to choose an artificial grass that&#;s up to the job.

We hope that this guide has proved useful and we recommend the next step you take is to request free samples of artificial grass to compare the different products available.

You should be able to request any of the above technical information directly from the manufacturer in order to compare different products.

If they are unable to provide this information, they may be best avoided.

If you have any questions on choosing the best artificial grass for your garden, please leave us a comment below as our experienced team will be more than happy to help you.

 

Related

For more information, please visit Bulk Artificial Grass.