Artificial grass for dogs has increased in popularity in recent years. Many dog owners are transforming their front gardens, back yards, and dog runs with artificial grass.
Indeed, there are plenty of reasons why people are turning to synthetic grass for their landscaping projects. Artificial lawns require minimal water, they are low maintenance, and are an affordable alternative to natural grass. Of course, they’ll also maintain their lush green looks all year round. That alone, is a good reason to install fake grass.
Natural grass lawns look fantastic when they are well maintained and watered. However, keeping them in pristine condition requires time, effort, and financial cost.
If you have even one boisterous canine friend, they could damage all of your hard work. After all, dogs love to dig, especially into a soft grass lawn.
They can also stain your grass through their toilet activities. Dogs like to urinate in the same spot, and this can lead to brown patches on your grass.
Another one of their activities that damages your grass is there running and playing. Your dog sprinting around your beautiful grass lawn will soon leave track marks and ruts.
Protecting your lawn from your dogs’ activities, or clearing up after them, is a constant struggle. If you have faced such a struggle, you may have considered laying artificial grass.
Here are a few common questions we get asked from owners considering artificial grass for dogs:
This article aims to answer some of these questions, so you can decide on installing artificial grass for dogs.
When it comes to the safety of your children and pets, you can take no chances. Therefore, you can rest assured, artificial grass is safe.
Earlier versions of artificial grass may have contained lead or chemicals, but that is no longer the case. Artificial grass manufacturing techniques have advanced significantly. Indeed, fake grass is now safer than its natural counterpart. These improvements are backed by agreements entered into by turf manufacturers and the Center for Environmental Health (CEH) in 2008.
Of course, you should ensure you choose a reputable dealer to supply your artificial grass for dogs. Also, you may have moved to a home with artificial grass already installed. In this case, you should check it doesn’t pre-date the CEH agreement. If it does, you should check the lead levels.
We alluded to the benefits of artificial grass for dogs in the introduction. Dog owners all over the country are choosing artificial turf for the following reasons:
The amount of maintenance required for artificial grass is a fraction of that needed for natural lawns. Indeed artificial grass maintenance is practically nil.
Consider the amount of mowing, trimming, weeding, watering, and edging needed to keep your grass looking good. With artificial grass for dogs, you and your pet can enjoy your garden rather than just working on it.
Although artificial turf requires much less maintenance than a natural lawn, it still needs watering occasionally. Doing so will ensure you prevent the build-up of ammonia from your dog’s urine.
You should do this with water and a brush, and avoid using a pressure washer. That’s because the force of these washers can damage the artificial grass fibers.
Of course, you still need to pick up solid dog mess. Apart from that, the only maintenance required is an occasional brush and debris clearance.
Of course, switching to artificial grass involves an initial investment. The overall amount you spend will depend upon the size of the area you want covered and quality of artificial turf used. Other factors will also affect the price. For instance, you might have to landscape your garden before installation.
For a rough estimate, you should plan on t $6.16 – $8.98/sq. ft. This estimate will apply to installations between 500-1000 sq. ft.
If these figures shock you, consider this. An artificial grass installation should last you more than ten years. After the initial installation costs, it requires almost nothing spent on maintenance.
Consider the time and effort you put into maintaining your natural grass lawn. Also, what about the expense you incur on water, powering sprinklers, and pesticides? With artificial grass, these costs are practically eliminated.
Let’s take a closer look at the savings you can make by installing artificial grass for dogs.
One of the most significant savings you can make is on water. On average, an American household uses 320 gallons of water every day. Almost 30% of water is for outdoor usage, and half of this amount goes on watering lawns. Indeed, around 9 billion gallons of water is used daily for landscape irrigation.
Natural grass lawns look great, but they need a lot of maintenance to keep their looks. When you have artificial grass for dogs, you can say goodbye to a garage-full of maintenance tools. There’s no need for motorized mowers, electric strimmers, or other power tools for your grass upkeep. Therefore, you’ll not only save on energy, but clear some space in your garage.
On average, homeowners spend almost 44 hours each year tending their gardens. That’s the equivalent to an entire working week. Installing artificial grass will give you that time back. You could put that time to better use; perhaps relaxing in your garden!
Installing synthetic turf is relatively straightforward and most installations take only a couple of days. The process is completed in 7 stages:
You might think you can save some money by installing artificial grass yourself. Indeed, any handy DIYer can achieve good results on small areas.
However, larger areas involve joining sections of artificial turf. If these are not done correctly, you will see where the sections join. To conceal seams and achieve a natural look, your best option could be to hire a professional.
We’d be delighted to answer any queries you might have about artificial grass for dogs. So, give us a call today.
210 S Thompson St. Unit 6
Springdale, AR 72764