6 Reasons Why Artificial Grass is Completely Pet-Friendly

Are you concerned about whether artificial grass will be pet-friendly?

Artificial grass can be a big investment, so it’s understandable you’re concerned about whether or not your pets will get on with it. Perhaps you’re worried your new lawn will get stained, start to smell, or that your pets will try to eat it.

As an artificial grass installer, let me reassure you that all of these fears are completely unfounded. In fact, in over eight years of installing artificial lawns on homeowners’ properties, we’ve never once encountered any of these problems.

Below, I’m going to give you six reasons why artificial grass is completely pet-friendly – and could actually be your best option.

1. It can’t get stained by urine

Good quality artificial grass usually comes with excellent UV stability, and is put through rigorous tests for colour-fastness and UV resistance. Unlike natural lawns, artificial grass fibres are not damaged by animal faeces or urine.

It won’t discolour, and the urine will pass through the perforated holes in the backing of the grass and into the aggregate sub-base, with no damage or puddling to your grass.

And as long as you clear up any faeces straight away, and hose down the area with water and use a little soap where necessary, it shouldn’t smell. Rainfall can also help to wash away any urine.

2. Pets won’t try to dig it up

The reason most pets try to dig up real grass is because of the mud. However, since artificial grass means there’s no mud involved, pets are less inclined to try and dig or pick at it. As it’s made of plastic, it has completely different properties to real grass, and serves as a deterrent to stop pets from ruining it.

We’ve installed artificial grass in many homes with even the most unruly dogs (in some cases, up to 7 in the one household!) and never had any problems with pets trying to dig up artificial grass or pull it up at the edges.

However, if you’re particularly concerned about this, extra measures can be taken in the form of galvanised steel pins and a timber border we can nail the grass edge to. These round pins and nails are so deep down and so well hidden that pets wouldn’t be able to dig up the edges or hurt themselves on the nails.

dog on artificial grass

3. It’s extremely durable

Artificial grass is designed to withstand very heavy footfall, and is strength-tested to exceed British standards, so that the blades of grass cannot be pulled out of the weave. This means your dog won’t be able to eat it, or destroy it. Because it’s so tough and durable, it can typically handle heavy use all year round from people and pets alike.

A good quality artificial lawn should last on average around 15 – 20 years. Despite its durability, there are still various different looks and styles you can choose from to suit your personal tastes.

4. It eliminates muddy paws

Artificial grass can be used in all weather, and dries out quickly due to the fully-permeable system we install. This allows water and rainfall to drain straight through the grass and into the soil sub-base, causing no pudding to your new artificial lawn.

This means that pets can use it regardless of the time of year, and they won’t get wet, muddy paws all through your home.

5. No harmful chemicals needed

Unlike a natural lawn, artificial grass doesn’t require fertilisers to keep it looking good. It’s made up of synthetic materials that won’t stain or get muddy, so you don’t need to use any harmful chemicals near your lawn.

If necessary, you can use a pet-friendly weed killer, but usually this isn’t needed as surface weeds caused by airborne seeds will just gently pull out.

6. Pets love the feel of it

In my experience, pets tend to love the feel of artificial grass just like they do real grass. This is because it is made of soft and springy materials, making it enjoyable and fun for them to play on.

In fact, one of our customers has a grand total of seven dogs, and her lawn was covered in muddy, patchy, wet grass all-year-round. She wanted a nice, safe space her pets could use without getting all muddy and wrecking her garden and home. Now, she is always commenting on Facebook and putting up pictures of her pets playing on their Easigrass lawn.

dog lying on artificial grass

Advice from an experienced installer

While most good quality artificial grass products will be pet-friendly, not all will be manufactured to the same high standards. There are many factors that help ensure your artificial lawn will be made to last, such as the installation, and the stitch rate on the backing on the grass itself.

The more stitches, the more it will ensure the grass will stay securely fitted to the rubber backing. You should be able to tell the quality by looking at the distance between each line of stitches; the further apart they are, the lesser quality the product will be. This is known as the gauge.

As for installation, if your artificial grass is not fitted correctly, with joins fixed properly, or the correct sub-based used, then pets may be able to destroy the grass much easier. That’s why it’s always best to research your chosen installer beforehand, and ask what safeguards they have in place to prevent this from happening.

TIP: Reading customer testimonials and reviews from homeowners with pets should also help set your mind at ease.

Conclusion

I hope you’ve found this blog helpful when deciding on whether or not to invest in artificial grass. Due to the above reasons, it can actually be one of the most pet-friendly solutions to a hassle-free lawn. In fact, we can honestly say that in over eight years of installing artificial lawns, we’ve never had any pet-related problems yet!

Most good quality artificial grass products should be completely pet-friendly and manufactured to a high standard, but it doesn’t hurt to check. The way it’s installed is also very important, so be sure to choose a reputable installer who can explain what safeguards they have in place to ensure your pets can’t destroy your grass.

Do you have any questions about installing artificial grass for your pets? Just leave a comment below – I promise to reply!

 

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