Case study #2
Luck was on their side when Simon and Paula Riley of Cape Town bought their home five years ago: the previous owner was a landscaper, so the garden was in good condition overall with most of the design work already in place.
But the natural lawn, a mixture of kikuyu and buffalo grass, was something they struggled with during winter, especially since the trees in the garden create a lot of shade. With water restrictions being imposed, the lawn would soon have turned brown and possibly died, so the Rileys decided to install artificial grass just before Christmas 2016.
“We were expecting lots of family and visitors over the holidays and wanted the garden, which is a key entertainment area, to look its best,” says Simon.
Uncertain of the outcome, the couple decided to do the work in two stages, starting with the back garden. “That section of the garden is very private, so it wouldn’t have been a total disaster if This garden now looks lush and green – Labrador pup Riley can’t dig up the grass and cleaning her poop is much easier. the installation of the artificial grass didn’t work out well,” explains Simon.
While they got quotes from several companies, the couple say that the professionalism of Perfect Grass and the personal attention they received from them sealed the deal.
Other than clearing the old grass, there wasn’t too much work to be done. Stepping stones that lead from the front gate to the front door were already in place, so the Rileys simply had the artificial lawn laid around them. “We chose a longer version of the grass with a mixture of colours and shades that would look more natural,” says Simon.
With less garden upkeep to worry about, the Rileys are free to spend more time enjoying their outdoor space. “We love our almost maintenancefree garden – there’s no need to stress about watering, cutting or fertilising. The lawnmower is gathering dust in the garage; we just use a garden vacuum to clear the leaves,” Simon explains. • Synthetic grass can mostly be installed in a day. The ground is prepared with a grit sand base as well as a weed barrier to prevent seeds from penetrating. Once the grass is laid, it is covered with a silica sand infill to ensure stability. To keep it from lifting on the edges, it can be glued to a cement border. If there’s a solid base, the entire area is glued to the base. • The cost of installing artificial grass is influenced by various factors – the cost of the grass itself makes up only about 10% of the bill. Removing a layer of the existing earth where the lawn will be laid, carting away any waste, preparing a grit sand base, fitting a weed barrier and adding a silica infill makes this kind of installation a pricey investment, although you will save on the maintenance associated with a real lawn in the long run. It’s best to get a quote for your needs, as it might differ hugely from home to home. • It cannot be installed over existing grass, as the grass underneath will die, creating an uneven surface. • Warranties vary from five to eight years, but the grass can last for up to 15 years in domestic installations. • Pet poop can be scooped up as usual, and the area can be washed with water for hygienic purposes. • Artificial grass can be considered ecofriendly as it requires no pesticides which pollute the earth’s water supply. In some cases, plastic bottles are recycled to manufacture artificial grass. • Synthetic grass can become hot in direct sunlight, much like a wooden deck or concrete. In summer, a sprinkling of water will keep the sand infill cool and lower the temperature of the grass. Tip Save an offcut of the grass you install so that if it gets damaged, you can replace it easily.