Real Grass vs Artificial Grass Comparison

Cost and Maintenance Comparison Last Updated: 15/08/2023

Artificial grass can often be seen as a cheaper alternative to real grass, and many people believe there is no ongoing maintenance once it has been installed. However, artificial grass requires just as much regular maintenance as real grass, which over time can affect its appearance, durability, and longevity.

Real Grass	Artificial Grass
Cheaper to lay real turf. Lawn renovation is also a cheaper alternative. Regener8 is the most cost-effective solution.	More expensive to lay down than real grass due to the additional cost of underlaying and drainage system.
Feed and weed, and moss control applications are required to keep the grass healthy.	Requires special cleaning products to get rid of smells and stains as it is essentially like installing carpet.
Requires watering during warm weather	It retains around double the heat in hot weather compared to real grass making it less usable.
Requires regular mowing during the growing seasons.	Vacuuming / brushing artificial grass can damage or remove the grass fibers beyond repair.
Most lawns require scarification periodically to reduce moss and thatch levels.	Moss still occurs in artificial lawns, but you can’t scarify them to remove it, resulting in an incredibly unsightly surface over time.
Bare patches may need to be repaired with over-seeding occasionally.	Damaged areas may need to be repaired with extra pieces of artificial grass and this is always obvious visually when replacing sections of the lawn.

Eco Friendly Comparison

The biggest difference between real grass and artificial grass is the effect it has on the environment. Real grass has several benefits which help our ecosystem, while artificial grass is far from green for the environment.

Real Grass	Artificial Grass
Better for the environment. Real grass converts carbon dioxide into oxygen.	Bad for the environment. Artificial grass effect the carbon levels in the atmosphere
Supports wildlife.	Causes reduction of biodiversity.
Helps mitigate flooding.	Contributes towards flooding due to not being able to soak up water.
Much cooler than artificial grass during warm weather.	Artificial lawns can get hotter than asphalt and concrete, making it dangerous for people and pets to walk on.
Grass clippings can be processed over time to become compost.	Unnecessary use of plastic, that cannot be easily recycled.

Health Comparison

Real grass also comes with health benefits, while artificial grass can cause more harm than good for your health.

Real Grass	Artificial Grass
Freshly cut grass often tops the list of most pleasant and comforting smells.	The unpleasant smell of melting plastic during hot weather, which can lead to an increased risk of heart disease, and respiratory side effects such as aggravated asthma.
Studies have shown that standing barefoot on real grass is proven to trigger a reduction in the signs of stress, with lowering of both heart rate and blood pressure.	Injuries can occur more frequently due to artificial surfaces having more traction than real grass.

On top of all the points raised above, one final thing to remember is that artificial lawns don’t look anything like a real lawn. An artificial lawn will never look as appealing as a real lawn that has been cut and striped correctly, which begs the question, what is the point of installing an artificial lawn if it doesn’t look anything like the real thing?