What Is Astro Turf?
This type of fake turf was developed in the 1960s as an artificial playing surface and is still in use in the USA. It combines the benefits of low maintenance with extended usage, but it should never be confused with artificial grass. The term may have become synonymous with fake grass, but in fact Astro Turf is a trademark, so when you want to talk about your synthetic lawn, it’s far more accurate to use terms like ‘artificial grass’.
So What’s Artificial Grass?
This umbrella term is what is now used to describe fake or synthetic grass or grass turf. Modern artificial grass accurately mimics real grass for an ‘is it or isn’t it?’ effect that can fool anyone. It’s designed to be low-maintenance, so you don’t need to mow, weed or feed your artificial grass, and if it’s well installed it’s long-lasting, fade-resistant and free-draining, which means it keeps its good looks much longer than a live lawn.
It's also far more aesthetically pleasing in a garden than Astro turf, but it’s unlikely you’d want to lay a professional playing surface in your back garden!
Why Should I Opt for an Artificial Lawn?
For some it’s a question of being able to maintain a garden, and synthetic grass can be a great substitute for a real lawn if you have reduced mobility but still love to get outdoors. Although a real lawn is an asset to the environment, it is resource-greedy and many of the chemicals used to maintain lawn health can be damaging to other wildlife.
