Find out about the best types of fake grass for your beloved furry friends, to ensure their safety and happiness in your garden.
Artificial grass is growing in popularity across the country as homeowners seek a natural-looking lawn that requires minimal maintenance.
Artificial grass works in many types of gardens, from those heavily used for sports to those barely used but still required to look great.
One of the most popular uses is, of course in gardens belonging to households with cats and dogs.
If you are considering artificial grass and want to know more about choosing the best product for your favourite furry friends, here’s everything you need to know to make the best decision:
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What Is Artificial Grass?
Artificial grass, otherwise known as faux grass, fake grass or synthetic turf, usually comes in rolls and is made from a variety of different types of material, but to summarise, it’s plastic!
It comes in a vast variety of colours, textures and styles to suit any garden aesthetic.
Why Is Artificial Grass A Great Idea For Dogs?
Artificial grass has some fantastic benefits for households with pets. Just some of the key benefits include:
- No patchy urine-burnt grass
- Dogs and cats can’t dig up artificial grass
- Always looks beautiful regardless of pets playing on it
- No muddy paws in the house
- Pets benefit from being able to use the lawn regularly without you restricting use in wet weather because of mud
- Easy to rinse off pee and poop residue
Let’s not also forget the benefits of artificial turf in general, including the lack of need to mow, and the consistently beautiful aesthetic to suit any garden.
OK, So Which Artificial Grass Is Best For My Dog?
There are lots of things to consider when it comes to choosing the best artificial grass for your dog or other pets. Here are the key considerations, and our best tips to get those aspects of your purchase right:
Pile Length
Polyethene and polypropylene materials generally ask for pile between 20 and 30 millimetres. Nylon as a material, however, could be between 20 and 30 millimetres and it will be fine. However, because it is so durable, it can be longer, up to 35 millimetres and it will still be fine regularly useful by your pets.
Pile Material
There’s a lot of dispute as to which material is the best for artificial lawns, especially those with pets. All materials have their pros and cons, and it is important to consider all of your options before making a decision.
The main three choices are polyethene, polypropylene and polyamide (nylon). Every company will tell you their material is the best, but in general, polyethene is the material used most often, and the stuff that tends to perform well in every aspect.
Fake Grass Pile Density
Pile density is significant when it comes to turf for your dogs & other pets. The amount of grass blades has a huge impact on the comfort of the grass underfoot, and the ability it has to deal with regular use.
For that reason, the denser the grass, the better, when it comes to a household with pets. You should look for a density of above 16 thousand stitches for every square metre as a minimum, but ideally, 18 thousand stitches for every square metre is a good amount.
As a general rule, look for practical factors ahead of aesthetics. Of course, you can have grass that looks great, and that performs well, but if you get the practical aspects right first, you’ll be in an excellent position to select an aesthetic that is perfect for your pets in every other way.
Caring For Artificial Grass When You Have A Dog!
Artificial grass is so much easier to care for than natural grass. However, it does come with some maintenance needs, especially when you have pets. Maintaining it well means it looks and feels excellent for as long as possible.
Cleaning your lawn will be a regular requirement as a pet owner. Although the rain does wash it somewhat, there is still a need for care and attention from you.
A perfect regime if your pet uses the lawn for toileting, is to collect their poop when it happens, and then rinse that spot before the residue becomes hard.
Also, you can then rinse the entire lawn with a hose once a week, which should adequately clean away the urine and other matter. You may also want to use a deodorising product for any lingering scents.
In addition to your weekly cleans, you should see to the lawn thoroughly every month.
To do this, you should:
- Remove any large debris by hand
- Brush away debris like leaves and dirty with a hard-bristled brush
- Rinse the lawn thoroughly ensuring any waste it thoroughly rinsed off
- Using your hard-bristled brush, brush up the fibres to make them bushy and full again
In all instances, it is a really good idea to deal with any spills or issues like pet vomit, poop or other undesirable residue as it happens. Dealing with it as it happens makes it so much easier to clean up.
On a hot summers day your fake grass will become extremely hot! Be sure to keep your dog from spending to long because fake grass will brn their paws!
The Wezaggle Experts!
Disinfecting Your Faux Grass
If you want to disinfect your faux grass as well as clean it, then it is important not to use any strong chemicals as they won’t be good for the planet, your pets or your family.
Instead, you only need to mix white vinegar and water to spray on the lawn, paying particular attention to areas that your pet uses for urination.
Hopefully, our advice above has helped you gain an excellent understanding of how to choose the right grass for your pets. The tips on keeping it in excellent condition should also help you maintain a gorgeous garden for the whole family.
If you want further guidance on artificial grass, please take a look at our Wezaggle blog which has a whole section dedicated entirely to faux lawns. We’re always updating it with current information and tips to help you get the latest information on this incredibly popular garden addition.
