5 Reasons Why Artificial Grass is Perfect for Pets
Artificial grass is a very popular choice for those with pets, but sometimes people can be unsure about this. That’s why I want to explain my top 5 reasons why artificial grass is perfect for pets, and how to maintain it’s upkeep with a dog/cat.
If I had a pound for every time someone questioned my choice for artificial grass as a dog owner! Earlier this year my partner and I renovated our garden, which included laying down astro turf (See videos here). Our garden is a humble 4 X 4 metre square space so I guess it would technically be classified as a courtyard. Instead of laying down paving slabs though, we decided that we wanted to create a more cosy feel and create a space that we could laze and relax in the sun. Artificial grass was something we were both keen on getting as the space didn’t feel big enough to justify getting real lawn. Also, artificial grass is BRILLIANT if you have pets, and I want to tell you why!
5 Reasons why artificial grass is perfect for pets
A lot of people question whether artificial grass is good if you have pets, and I can completely understand why. You may think it’s harder to maintain, unhygienic or more prone to damage – But really it’s quite the opposite! Here’s what I’ve learnt so far…
1. Pets grow to love it very quickly
Dogs love comfort, and artificial grass is perfect for just that. Providing you invest in a high quality, soft pile synthetic grass, your pooch will love it! Artificial grass is soft and dense, so it makes for a perfect place to lay (and sunbathe!). It also heats up quite nicely in the sun, and we all know dogs love finding the warmest spot to lay in.
I often find Digby scratching himself on the artificial grass too, he has a crazy few minutes rubbing his body up and down the pile – He loves it!
2. There’s no mud included!
During winter I got so fed up with constantly wiping muddy paw prints off the floor in the house. It was a never ending battle; Me vs mud.
Artificial grass is essentially mud free, which means clean paws and floors all year round! This was really important to me as there’s nothing worse than adding extra chores to an already busy schedule. Having artificial grass has definitely made life a little more stress-free.
3. It’s easy to clean
I’m half guessing that this is the main reason why you clicked on this post in the first place… Am I right? The main question I get asked is if it’s easy to clean artificial grass, and does it leave a lingering smell. Well, I can put your mind at ease and say that yes, it is easy to clean and no, there’s no smell providing you clean it once in a while.
The benefits of artificial grass is that it’s quite a short pile. This makes it a look easier to scoop the poop, and clean afterwards. If you have a dog then you’ll appreciate how hard it is to clean up their mess in longer grass, so that’s no longer an issue!
Each time Digby does his business, we scoop, wipe the area and wash down with a pint of water. It’s really quite simple. Once a month we will then clean the area properly to keep any odours at bay. If you think about it, it’s much easier to clean than normal grass, and means you don’t have any patches to avoid walking/laying on.
How to clean artificial grass…
Once a month we will eradicate any odours/messes by cleaning the grass. We do this by working some bicarbonate of soda in the area needed. Spraying vinegar is also another great way of getting rid of nasty smells, both permanently and naturally.
Does faeces and urine affect artificial grass?
- Faeces and urine does NOT damage fake lawn.
- Artificial grass is hardy, and can cope with what nature throws at it.
- Unlike real grass, fake grass doesn’t die when a dog urinates on it.
- Urine drains away through the artificial grass, just like rain does.
- Dog faeces needs to be cleaned, just as it would on real lawn.
- Simply scoop the poop and wash down the area to get rid of any residual stains.
4. It’s hardy and tolerant to pet habits
We all know pets can go a little crazy during play time. Digby especially likes to run around, paw at things, scratch and roll around in the sun. Artificial grass doesn’t wear thin, and is hardy and durable against these habits.
Digby has a certain patch of grass that he likes to lay in all the time, and unlike real lawn the artificial grass compacts, and then springs back up. It may need a little brushing up from time to time to keep it looking fresh, but doing that is far less complicated than maintaining real lawn!
5. It always stays looking fresh!
Fake lawn is so much easier to maintain than real lawn. We don’t have to worry about balding patches, dying grass or Digby digging up holes!
Throughout the whole year the grass stays looking fresh, not to mention it’s always green and luscious. This is another great reason why artificial grass is perfect for pets, because you don’t have to worry about it loosing it’s life. Fake grass is made of durable plastic with a tough backing, so it won’t discolour and the grass won’t die!
Where to buy artificial grass?
For reference, we bought our artificial grass from Grass Direct and I couldn’t rate it higher. Our grass is called ‘St Lucia’ and was approx £15.99 per metre square. I would recommend ordering a few samples in advance to ensure you get the right grass for you. Grass direct offers free samples!
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