Why your perfect lawn might be bad for the environment

A lot of the population is of the opinion that a real lawn is better for the environment than artificial grass. But, how true is this? Well, Flooring Direct has been doing some digging into the ins and outs of artificial grass. Read this article and see if you have the same opinion you did before reading the piece.

Do real lawns threaten the climate?

Maintaining a luscious clean, green and beautiful lawn is a hobby for some, and an enjoyable job for others. But is it any better for the climate than artificial turf on your lawn? Some people say yes, and some people say no. The truth is, it’s somewhere in the middle and there isn’t an exact answer. This article isn’t necessarily about proving why a fake lawn is better than a real one, but that it isn’t always unhealthy for the environment either. Discover Magazine reference the fact that a classic green lawn may threaten the climate, water conservation and other sustainable goals.

They are not always the best environment for insects

A fresh lawn, although smelling nice and glistening in the sun, might not be great for the environment. Research has suggested that the impact of a natural lawn on the environment could harm insects and bug life. You need to have a range of flowers, possibly decking, artificial turf elements and also plants and trees if possible. Otherwise, a pure lawn may create a ‘one-style’ environment that does not give insects the variety they need. Some might say it is the opposite of a biodiverse ecosystem.

Cutting grass gives off carbon dioxide fumes

Many do not consider that when they are cutting grass, they could be harming the environment. As Flooring Direct has suggested previously, grass lawns do soak up carbon dioxide, but then when mown and cut, the fumes are released into the air. But there is evidence to suggest that once the energy expended by mixing, fertiliser use and watering is taken into account, a real lawn would actually produce and emit more greenhouse gases than it soaked up.

But what if you want a real lawn in your garden?

The point of artificial grass is to be considered as an alternative to plastic plants and other sorts of non-natural elements, like decking. Elderly and disabled people may not be able to maintain a real lawn. If you then leave a real lawn, it can become even worse for the environment. It can also begin to give off toxic fumes if not cared for, as weeds develop. If the weeds cannot be dug up, then not only does it lose the magic glean, it can definitely be considered eye pollution.

Artificial Grass reduces workload

A real lawn with real grass is not always easy to maintain either. Watering may seem like a simple job, but have you ever tried to lift a full watering can? It’s not as easy as it looks, and for many, artificial grass and turf solve this problem. The consensus is that an unkept real lawn could be more harmful to insects and the environment than artificial grass. Again, we’re not trying to turn you away from having a real lawn, just trying to dispel the myths that artificial grass is solely bad for the environment.

Caring for your natural lawn can cause unrest in other habitats

Additionally, natural turf needs a bit of TLC. mowing with a lawnmower that may use petrol? Using petrol is not necessarily great for the environment due to the fuel issues. The insects and bugs that live within the grass get their habitat destroyed every Sunday afternoon by the mower.

Whereas with an artificial lawn, the bugs and insects still live comfortably in the sand base and infill. It also gives the homeowner the free time to concentrate their efforts in the garden planting flowers and creating the right environment for insects.

Real grass versus artificial grass – benefits of nature?

Real grass does not always benefit nature. Yes, it takes carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and gives back oxygen but the following days after we repay that gift by turning on the lawnmower and cutting the lawn. There is no advantage to our carbon footprint to having a real lawn. Unless we never mow it and we don’t let animals eat it and digest it. Plus, we don’t use pesticides and water on it.

Where can you buy an artificial lawn?

At Flooring Direct, we believe in helping the environment. As well as this, we want to provide people with a garden and house to be proud of. The majority of our products are sustainable, and our customer service team would always be happy to talk you through the best products for you.

Essentially, we would rather see someone have artificial grass, (which can now be 100% recyclable and turned into composite furniture) and have the time to create flower beds, vegetable patches and do things that will in return help to reduce our carbon footprint.

More information on artificial grass from Flooring Direct

For any more information on artificial grass or the products we sell, take a look at our fake grass product pages.