The grass is greener
Builderscrack.co.nz has you covered with practical lawn advice that best suits your needs, budget and lifestyle.
Real grass (above) or artificial (below)? And is instant turf the way to go? Builderscrack.co.nz breaks down the pros and cons.
There are few things more appealing than heading outside to a soft, green lawn on a sunny day. As New Zealand’s leading home improvement marketplace, builderscrack.co.nz has the ultimate guide for getting the lawn you want.
To start, what kind of lawn should you choose? Options include natural grass seed, hydroseed, instant turf and artificial grass. Here are some factors to consider.
Budget: How much are you prepared to invest, both upfront and ongoing?
Aesthetics: How important is a perfectly manicured look?
Functionality: Do you need the lawn for the kids, pets or entertaining?
Environmental: Does your carbon footprint impact your buying decisions?
Timing: Are you on a tight schedule? Or can you wait for optimal conditions?
Maintenance: How much time will you put into care and upkeep?
Longevity: What lifespan are you expecting from your lawn?
Upfront, lawn seed and hydroseeding are cheaper but require a bigger effort. The lawn will need a few weeks or months before anyone can walk on it. Instant turf is a bit easier and can handle foot traffic after a few weeks. It can also be laid year-round, with enough watering. You’ll also need to factor in upfront costs of topsoil, fertiliser and sprays. Artificial grass is more expensive upfront but can be laid any time, with minimal effort and can be walked on immediately.
Once the lawn is established, ongoing considerations involve comparing the two types: natural and artificial. Modern developments are making it harder to tell the difference. You’ll need to decide which type is right for your lifestyle. Real grass feels nice underfoot, cools the surrounding areas, supports biodiversity and is good for air quality. Of course, it does need ongoing mowing and maintenance.
Artificial grass is low-maintenance, allergy-friendly, consistent and conserves water. But it can be hot, and it’s not always biodegradable.
Still undecided? Here’s some advice from Paul Motley of Supreme Services, who’s been landscaping for over 25 years and is one of many great trade professionals to be found via builderscrack.co.nz.
“You’ll get the most success by looking at the soil conditions. The soil is where the roots of the grass are bedded in, so if you can fertilise and do as much as you can to improve the conditions beforehand, you’ll get a much better end result,” Paul recommends.
Paul says that sub-base preparation is just as crucial for synthetic grass to ensure a good application.
Also, check your drainage. “I’ve come across areas, even flat ones, that might not get proper drainage with heavy rain. Be sure to get that sorted first because it can create issues down the track.”
Overall, he says, there’s one question to ask yourself: How much time do I want to spend per week on my lawn? “This is the deciding factor. If people are prepared to put in the effort, by all means, natural grass is a great option,” Paul says. “I think I have a bias towards artificial grass because of the developments in recent years, which make it look more natural.”
But as with most things in life, there’s no ‘one-size-fits-all’. Consider those key factors, and you’ll get great results no matter which lawn option you choose.
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