Artificial Grass: The Honest Homeowner's Guide

Artificial grass has become one of the most popular garden upgrades in the UK, particularly for families with young children, homeowners with shaded or high-traffic areas, and those wanting a low-maintenance garden. But it is also one of the most misunderstood products — quality varies enormously, installation matters hugely, and there are genuine environmental concerns to understand before you commit.

Artificial grass is graded primarily by pile height, density (stitches per square metre), and fibre composition. Pile heights of 25-40mm suit most residential gardens. Density matters more than pile height — a low-density grass looks sparse within a year or two of heavy use. Polyethylene fibres are the most natural-looking and soft underfoot; polypropylene is cheaper but less durable. Always feel the product: good artificial grass should not feel scratchy, and the fibres should stand upright, not flatten immediately under hand pressure.

The most common reason artificial grass fails — looks bad, drains poorly, or develops lumps — is poor installation, not the product itself. A proper installation involves: removing the existing lawn to a depth of at least 75-100mm, installing a compacted sub-base of crushed aggregate (MOT Type 1), laying a weed membrane over the sub-base, and fixing the grass with adhesive joins and securing pins at the perimeter. Cutting corners on any of these steps leads to problems within 1-2 years.

The sub-base is the part of the artificial grass installation that no one sees — and the part that determines whether the grass lasts five years or fifteen. Never skip the proper aggregate compaction stage.

— Landscape Institute

Supply and installation of artificial grass typically costs £40-£80 per square metre in England, depending on the quality of grass chosen and the complexity of the groundworks. A 30-square-metre garden laid to a reasonable specification (proper sub-base, mid-range product) typically costs £1,800-£3,000 fully installed. Very cheap "artificial grass" offers (under £20/m² supply only) are invariably poor quality — the fibres degrade quickly in UV and flatten under traffic.

Artificial grass is not without environmental impact. It creates a non-permeable surface that contributes to urban runoff (though most products include drainage holes that allow some water through). It reduces biodiversity — grass roots and soil organisms are eliminated beneath it. It is a plastic product that will eventually end up in landfill, as recycling routes for end-of-life artificial grass are still limited. It also contributes to urban heat island effects, as it absorbs and radiates more heat than natural grass. These are real trade-offs worth acknowledging.

• Pile density matters more than pile height for durability
• Always include a proper crushed aggregate sub-base
• Budget for groundworks — they are as important as the product
• Avoid very cheap products; the UV degradation is rapid
• Ask for a 10-year product guarantee from the manufacturer