Gardens in coastal areas can be problematic.  The climate presents many challenges – strong winds, frequent storms, sea spray, and sandy soil are bad news for gardeners.  Leaving property owners with patchy, lack-lustre lawns, and parched, withered plants.

The biggest problem with coastal landscaping is the wind.  Ferocious winds carry salt and sand which desiccate grass lawns, plants and trees.  Experts recommend using a wind break, a hedgerow or fence to shelter your garden from the high winds.  This may save a few plants but isn’t ideal when it comes to lawn care, because grass doesn’t fare well in the shade. 

The second issue with seaside gardens is soil quality.  The soil can be salty, sandy and lacking in nutrients.  It is often light and fine and therefore is blown away in high winds.  This exposes the roots of grass and plants which are dried out by the sun.  You’re left with a parched and patchy lawn and shrivelled shallow-rooted plants.

It’s a nightmare for those that own holiday homes by the sea, because you’re not there to give your garden the extra attention it needs.  If you’re property is on the sea-front storms can cause salt water to wash over your garden, and winds will batter your plants with beach sand. 

Fake grass is the ideal solution to give you a lush green lawn by the sea.  Unaffected by the coastal climate, it will give you a beautiful garden with none of the hassle.  If you have an apartment, you can even use it to cover balconies or terraces, any salt residue will simply wash off. 

Popular home décor ideas website Houzz has 4156 photo shares of balconies with artificial grass.  These amazing images show how you can enhance any space with versatile fake grass. 

This lush oasis in Miami is one of our favourites – we love the use of the vibrant orange and sky blue fabrics.  It seems we’re not the only one’s either, the picture has been saved to 15,652 ideas books.

An interior design company shared this Mediterranean style patio.  The design feature has been created with slate tiles and crisscrossed strips of artificial grass, demonstrating the interesting design effects you can produce. 

Even the smallest balconies can benefit from a little dressing up.  This small space has been transformed with a little fake grass carpet and a contemporary lounger.

This modern rooftop garden is proof you don’t need soil to create majestic landscapes.  The lawn is huge and looks just like the real thing. 

Moss is a non-flowering sponge-like plant that spreads like wild-fire in the right environment.  In the UK, rainy weather in our sheltered back-gardens makes it a common problem.   If you’ve more moss than grass, here are a few helpful hints.

Cutting too short

Mowing your lawn any shorter than 2.5cm (1in) can cause moss.  Cutting too short weakens the grass, allowing moss to spread easily.  You should keep grass blades longer, yet mow more regularly because it encourages the spread of grass plants.

Drainage

Moss thrives in damp conditions.  The plant must have a damp environment to grow because it has it has no water-proofing systems to prevent its tissue water evaporating.  It also needs surrounding water to reproduce.  Try spiking to improve drainage.

Shady areas

If you have shaded or sheltered areas that get little or no sun or wind to dry out the lawn, you’ll get problems.  Try to cut back shrubs, hedges and trees to reduce shade.

Low nutrient level

If your grass is unhealthy due to poor soil conditions, moss can take over.  Treat your lawn, preferably with a product that contains moss killer.

Ever thought about faking it?

To maintain a neat, tidy, moss-free lawn takes a lot of work.  If you have a North facing garden or very poor drainage, you may be fighting a losing battle.  Have you ever considered artificial grass?  You can finally have a beautiful lush green lawn, with no weeds, moss or patching.  And there’s virtually no maintenance.

If you mow your lawn for 1 hour per week from May-September, you waste 20 hours of free time a year.  Lawn maintenance is time consuming.  With an artificial lawn, you can forget about your grass for good, and give yourself back a hard-earned rest at the weekend.

The little and often rule is the key to good grass care – but who has the time?  Gardening experts recommend you should cut your grass at least once a week in Spring and Autumn, and twice weekly in the Summer months when it grows faster.  You cannot cheat and clip short because this weakens the blades so moss and weeds take over.  If you follow guidelines by the RHS, that’s actually 30 hours a year, assuming it takes you 1 hour to do the job.

Then there’s the edge trimming, weed removal, patch repair and feeding to keep it looking tip top.  As well as this, you’re spending money on electricity, water and fertilisers.  It’s no wonder so many Brits faking it these days.

Artificial lawns require very little maintenance – just a quick brush down once and a while to keep the fibres in good condition.  Installing one could give you an extra day of free time per year – maybe even 2 days.

Many people enjoy the fresh air and exercise they get from mowing the garden…but imagine how much more fun you could have instead – perhaps going for a walk in the park or kicking a ball around with the kids?  Don’t waste your precious spare time, call us on 01371 87 5901 for a free fake lawn quote.

Front gardens are seldom used – they’re purely for aesthetics, to make a property’s exterior look more attractive and appealing.  We Brits like our privacy, spending our Saturday afternoons relaxing round the back, away from prying eyes.  With such busy lives, it’s no wonder that many of us begrudge time-consuming maintenance at the front.

Front gardens tend to be smaller, because space at the rear is much more desirable.  No matter how big your lawn, it requires all the same maintenance – mowing, edging, weeding, fertilising.  And for such a small surface area, you probably question whether it’s worth it.

Ever threatened to gravel it over?  You won’t be the first.  In fact, according to the RHS, 23 per cent of front gardens in the South east are paved (over three quarters of surface area).  In the north east, this figure jumps to 47%.  But, hard landscaping is expensive and it’s not the same as looking at a lovely green lawn.   That’s where artificial grass comes in.

There’s no need to give up your grass.  Nor do you need to opt for a depressing gravel solution that will diminish the visual appeal of your home.  Artificial grass is relatively inexpensive, easy to install and gives you a beautiful, lush green lawn without the maintenance.  You can forget about the front, it won’t take up any more of your time – enjoy a gorgeous garden that looks just like the real thing.

Are you looking to re-design your garden to lessen the amount of maintenance required?  If so, you’re probably carefully considering whether to go for paving, gravel, decking or one of many other hard landscaping solutions.  But have you considered the benefits of artificial grass?  Here’s a quick comparison:

Aesthetics

While a contemporary paved space may be what you originally had in mind for your garden – will it really be the same without grass?  Why choose concrete when you can have a lush, evergreen lawn?

Maintenance

Fake grass is almost maintenance free – no mowing, edge-trimming, weeding, watering or feeding.  All that’s required is regular brushing, you can also hoover and hose down if required, making it much the same as paving.

Cost

This is difficult to compare because it depends on the type of design you’re looking at – block paving, multiple decked areas, or decorative gravel.  To give you an idea LeisureTech Lawns offer an inclusive price for the grass, labour, and materials of £45 per square metre.

Installation

Synthetic grass installations are fairly simple and relatively quick – much more straightforward than many types of hard landscaping.

Use

Concrete is cold and hard.  It doesn’t feel good under foot, and you cannot lie out on it on a sunny day.  Good quality artificial grass is soft, bouncy and feels just like the real thing.  It’s great for children and pets allowing you to enjoy your garden more.

Credit: Freshome

If you’re researching the possibility of landscaping your roof, it may seem like more trouble than it’s worth.  But creating your roof-top oasis doesn’t have to be difficult…the easy solution is to use artificial grass.  It can be installed quickly and inexpensively, straight on top of concrete.

You can forget about practical considerations like whether the structure can take the weight of the soil, or where to put the lawn mower.  Artificial turf will give you a lush green lawn anywhere, with none of the hassle.  It will stay this way too, without any maintenance.  So there’s no need to worry about upkeep, watering or weeding.

Once your turf is installed you can design and decorate your newfound outdoor space.  Whether you want something sleek and contemporary, or elegant and traditional you’ll have a blank lawned canvas to work with.

• Use planters, pots, hanging baskets and stands to introduce trees, plants and flowers.
• Create a pathway with decorative patio stones.
• Add designer outdoor lighting to set the mood.
• Purchase outdoor lounge furniture to create a seating area.
• Add colour with vibrant cushions, throws and accessories.
• Decorate the walls with climbing plants or wall-art.
• Build/buy a storage cupboard to keep all your essentials – corkscrew, suntan lotion, BBQ utensils.
• Make it more private with clever screening.

LeisureTechLawns have completed many projects on rooftops, patios, balconies terraces, and courtyards.  If you’d like a quote for professional installation of artificial grass, call us on 01371 87 5901.

Image Credit: nijimiki.com

If you’ve not already done so, it’s time to get the garden ready for summer.  This gives you the perfect excuse for a bit of re-vamp.  Here are 5 improvement ideas:

1.  Create a theme

You can have lots of fun by creating an outdoor theme.  Choose chic Mediterranean, trendy Miami-style, rustic bistro, country-cottage, vibrant tropical, or contemporary Oriental.  Your garden probably lends itself to a particular style…just go with it.

2.  Make your space more sociable

You’ll get more out of your garden by creating a space that you actually want to hang out in.  This means lazy lounge chairs, relaxed bench seating, comfy cushions, and a place to keep some glasses and a cork-screw.

3.  Invest in a feature piece

This could be a water fountain, sculpture, gazebo, archway, a tree or feature wall.  It will give your outdoor space a wow factor, adding interest to the landscape and creating a focal point.

4.  Make it low maintenance

Do you see the garden as more of a hassle than place for enjoyment?  You can cut down on the chores with some clever landscaping.  Choose hardy plants that don’t need much TLC.  Gravel borders to stop weeds.  Install artificial grass and forget about mowing and edging.

5.  Plant something you love

Whether its roses, a strawberry plant, an apple tree, or exotic tropical flower, plant something that will make you smile.  Put it in a prime position so you can see it every time you look out the kitchen window.

More tips

7 Ways to improve your garden

5 Low maintenance landscaping ideas

The Advantages of an artificial lawn

1. North facing

Lawns need around 4 hours of light a day to stay healthy.  North facing gardens are not so much of a problem in the summer because the sun is higher in the sky.   The winter however can be a nightmare.  The damp conditions cause algae, slime, and moss growth; you may even get the odd mushroom.

2. Over-shadowed

If your house, neighbouring buildings, or tall trees cast a huge shadow over your lawn, it probably won’t get enough sunlight.  Grass in a shaded garden is normally patchy and mossy and you’ll have the hassle of re-seeding every year.

3. South facing

Lawns in sunny gardens can get scorched in the direct sunlight, turning grass from lush green to yellow/brown.  Lawn watering is normally more costly, using more water means higher monthly bills.

4. Outdoor play equipment

Swings, slides, and climbing frames leave unsightly marks on your lawn.  Wear and patching is inevitable.  Trampolines are the worst as the grass area underneath the mat is blocked out so gets zero sun.

5. Fruit trees

Falling apples, pears, plums or cherries can cause a lot of mess.  Sticky, rotting fruit will attract pests into your garden and the remains are hard to clear up.  You cannot clean natural grass.

If you’ve got any of these lawn problems, fake grass could transform your garden, making it more attractive, more usable, and less hassle.  You can be free of maintenance, save money on treatments, and start enjoying your outdoor space.