Battered by rain, frost and cold, the average British garden looks far from vibrant in the winter months. There are no spring daffodils or summer sunflowers to provide a shock of yellow, or the pink and peach hues of a fragrant sweet pea or honeysuckle plant. Instead, most gardens are a wash of brown, green and beige. So how do you ensure that your garden is colourful all year round?

Despite what you may think, there are a number of plants that bloom during the winter months. They may lack the ‘show off’ appeal of gladioli or petunias, but plants like hellebores (better known as Christmas roses), certain varieties of heather and the purplish pink Daphne mezereum all flower during the months of December, January and February.

An easy and quick fix is to use planters and pots in your garden. You can swap out annuals or any plants that are suffering under the winter conditions for hardier varieties. Adding moss to the surface of a planter can also give an additional burst of vivid green.

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Artificial grass used to mean the kind of plastic green turf often seen in greengrocers. But these days, synthetic grass looks almost like the real thing. The best designs have different shades and lengths of ‘blades’ to mimic the look and feel of natural grass. In general, you get what you pay for. Cheaper versions tend to have little or no variation in colour and have an obviously fake look. But when it comes to choosing the best artificial grass, looks are not the only thing to consider…

UV resistance

You’ve found a roll of grass that’s the perfect colour – and perhaps even cheaper than other models on the market – but if it doesn’t have UV protection, it won’t stay that way for long. Exposure to sun bleaches out colour. So, without adequate protection, a product can quickly look drab.

Drainage

Artificial grass is made from polyethylene (the same material that is used for carrier bags) and polypropylene. Unlike soil, these plastics don’t soak up water, so it’s important that adequate drainage is built into the design. It’s a good idea to compare different samples and to get advice from reputable suppliers.

Heat resistance

It might sound obvious but artificial grass doesn’t grow back. That’s why it’s important to make sure that it’s robust enough to withstand anything you or your family throw at it – including a sizzling sausage from the barbeque! Good quality artificial grass has a high level of heat resistance. You can do your own tests at home by putting hot items on a sample to see if they leave a mark.

For expert advice on the best artificial grass for your home, contact us on 0208 449 8413 or 07903 138 834 or e mail: daycoartificialgrass@gmail.com

Artificial grass might be designed to look like a lawn, but that doesn’t mean it has to stay in the garden. People are finding novel – and sometimes, downright bizarre – uses for this fun, flexible and hardwearing material.

Carpet

Artificial grass might not be the obvious choice as a carpet, but companies, keen to create a more playful office environment, are using it in meeting rooms and breakout areas. It’s also perfect for decorating a kid’s bedroom – what could be better than waking up in a room that looks like a playground. However, some people have taken it to the extreme – a lounge carpeted with artificial grass and decorated with life-size model sheep might not be to everyone’s taste, but it’s certainly not dull!

Pet Houses

Artificial grass makes a great floor covering for a kennel, as it’s easy to clean and robust enough to cope with the most energetic of dogs. Apparently reptiles quite like it too, so if you have a pet lizard, why not use artificial grass to line their tank.

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According to a National Trust survey, children today spend half the time that their parents did playing outdoors. And three quarters of children spend less time outdoors than prisoners!

It’s not just that kids today are missing out on a kind of Enid Blyton childhood of climbing trees, exploring and having adventures; a life spent indoors is having a significant impact on children’s health and wellbeing.

Around 4% of children leave primary school severely obese and half are overweight. It doesn’t take an expert to tell you that if children swap rounders in the park for PlayStation, it’s going to have an impact on their health.

But maintaining a healthy weight is just one of the many benefits of outdoor play. Whether it’s climbing up a slide or searching for bugs, when children play outdoors they use different muscles, problem solve, learn about the world around them and develop their imagination. On the other hand, children that spend their lives indoors are more prone to aggression, stress and anxiety.

Playing outdoors also helps ensure that children get enough Vitamin D – a nutrient that is vital for the development of healthy bones and teeth. Granted, sunlight is in short supply here in the UK, but even being outdoors for a few hours a week can have a significant impact.

Of course, weather is one of the things that stops children in the UK from playing outdoors. There’s not much we can do about the rain, but one thing that can be prevented is mud. An artificial lawn or play area can be used all year round. Unlike natural turf, it doesn’t turn to mud with the first downpour, meaning children are less likely to skid and fall over. And for parents tired of trying to get grass and mud stains from their children’s clothes, artificial grass is a godsend!

To discuss the best artificial grass for an outdoor play area, give us a call on: 0208 449 8413

School playing fields take something of a beating. The running, jumping and stamping of hundreds of children can take its toll on grass. That’s why, these days, many schools are turning to artificial grass to create sports fields and playgrounds that are durable, low-maintenance and can be used all year round.

Artificial grass is created to look like the real thing but it’s designed to be much tougher. There are also many different varieties and so schools can choose the best ‘grass’ for their needs. The ones that have shorter ‘blades’ and a denser structure are the most hardwearing.

However, durability is just one of the factors driving this trend. Unlike natural grass – which can become compacted and hard, particularly after bad weather – artificial grass has a springy texture. This quality makes it a safer option as it can help cushion any falls and provide a softer landing for those tricky tackles on the sports field.

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Artificial grass is growing in popularity and it’s not just because people have better ways to spend their weekends than mowing the lawn. It’s certainly true that artificial grass is low maintenance, but it can also be a great solution if you have a backyard or garden that gets very little sunlight or when you have young children or dogs (who have a tendency to scupper any plans for a perfectly manicured lawn).

But how do you know which grass to choose? Here is a handy list of things to look out for:

Colour

The best artificial grass is made up of at least 3 or 4 different colours, including some brown strands at the base. Natural grass is rarely one uniform vivid green and even the best tended lawns have drier, brown blades of grass underneath.

Length

For an authentic looking lawn, choose an artificial grass that has blades of different lengths. You should also think about how the space is going to be used. If it’s going to get heavy foot traffic, then look for shorter strands. The yarns used to create an artificial lawn are made to bounce back, but if you regularly have children running around on it, then it’s likely to flatten over time.

Density

The grass is spongier and more pleasurable to walk on when the strands are tightly packed together. A greater density also makes the grass more hardwearing.

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