Are you wondering how long artificial grass will last in your garden?
We all like to get the most for our money, and choosing artificial grass to replace your lawn can be a bit of an investment.
If you’re like many of my customers, you’ll want to know you’ll get many years of use out of your new grass, or whether you might be as well finding a cheaper solution.
As an experienced installer, I’m going to shed a little light on the subject below, so you can get a better idea of what to expect.
The average lifespan of artificial grass
If you’re investing in a high quality artificial lawn, it should last on average between 15 – 20 years; as long as you provide it with good aftercare. This can include an annual aftercare service from an installer (which I recommend), as well as taking thorough steps to maintain it yourself.
It’s also worth noting that if your garden will receive regular, heavy footfall, it may meet the lower side of the 15 – 20 years quoted. It will also require more regular upkeep. For lighter footfall, your grass will probably last the higher side of its life expectancy.
Can pets affect your grass’s lifespan?
Although regular, heavy footfall can affect the lifespan of your grass, you shouldn’t worry if you have pets. Artificial grass can be very pet-friendly, and we’ve had customers whose grass has lasted many years despite regular use with their pets.
One of our customers has dogs, and was worried about them ruining her new lawn. She mainly wanted somewhere they could happily run about and play all year round, without getting dirty or dragging mud into the house.
However, she was concerned that her new investment might not last long, as the dogs may haved tried to pick the grass up at the edges, and that the urine would smell. She was also concerned the dogs may try to eat the grass! Luckily, we were able to reassure her this wouldn’t happen.
We also gave her the below tips to help maintain her artificial lawn, and it still looks brand new three years down the line.
How do you maintain artificial grass?
Along with a quality aftercare service from your installer (always check to see if they offer an annual maintenance programme), there are other steps you can take to maintain your artificial grass throughout the year.
We recommend our customers do the following to keep their lawn looking as fresh and clean as the day it was installed:
- Use a stiff brush once per week to disturb any surface weeds or airborne seeds. (This also stops your grass looking flat)
- Remove any animal waste straight away to keep your grass clean
- Use a hose to wash away any pet urine to prevent any smell
- Dispose of any leaves in your garden regularly to avoid moss patches
Taking these simple, regular steps can help ensure you get the full 15 – 20 years from your investment.
TIP: An annual maintenance programme provided by your installer includes the use of more specialist equipment to help you get the most of your new lawn.
Should artificial grass come with a guarantee?
Yes, all reputable artificial grass installers should provide you with a guarantee that you can keep for your records. Our guarantee is 8 years, and is backed by the manufacturer – it also covers our own workmanship.
Not all companies will offer the same length of guarantee – some may provide five years, others 10. It really comes down to the individual company’s discretion. However, be wary of companies promising much higher guarantees, and ensure it is manufacturer-backed for that time.
The benefit of our own product (Easigrass) is that the grass itself is guaranteed by a huge company, and European manufacturers.
Advice from an experienced installer
Before deciding on an artificial grass company to install your grass, I’d recommend thoroughly doing your homework. Always choose a reputable, experienced installer who can offer you a manufacturer-backed guarantee – it should also cover workmanship.
We’ve had to fix a few botched jobs in the past, so sometimes it’s worth paying a little extra to ensure the best outcome. After all, going for the cheapest quote now could cost you more in the long-run!
Finally, always ensure you’re happy with the quality of the grass before agreeing to the work, and ask to see samples in-person, along with before-and-after photos.
Conclusion
I hope you’ve found this blog helpful. By now you should have a better idea of how long artificial grass should last in your garden. I’d recommend always going for a reputable installer who can offer you a good guarantee, just to be sure, though!
The lawns we’ve fitted 8 years ago that are regularly maintained with our maintenance plan still look as good as the day they were fitted, so we can’t stress enough how important it is to regularly maintain your lawn!
This is also a credit to our customers who take care of their lawn themselves, with regular upkeep and maintenance.
Do you want to know more about getting the most out of an artificial lawn? Feel free to leave a comment below, or get in touch with me directly. I’m here to help!