Which Artificial Grass Looks Realistic For UK Gardens

Artificial grass is a fantastic way to achieve a perfect lawn all year round, without any hassle or maintenance required for natural grass.

With so many different types and styles of artificial grass on the market, it can be tricky to know which one will suit your garden best. In this article, we'll look at some of them, the pros and cons, and our 5 top picks for you.

What Makes Artificial Grass Look Realistic for UK Gardens?

Some factors that make artificial grass look realistic for UK gardens are its texture, density, and colour. Artificial grass is usually made to look like real grass, but there are some important differences between the two.

The first difference is that artificial grass is usually made from synthetic materials like polyethene or nylon. These synthetic materials can be made to look and feel like real grass. However, they will not have the same wear and tear properties as real grass.

Another difference is that artificial grass is usually much less dense than real grass. This means that it may not look as lush and as full as real grass.

Finally, the colour of artificial grass may be different from real grass. This is because some artificial grass is made in a single shade, such as green. Real grass, on the other hand, can be a variety of different colours, with that being said nowadays this has started to change as more and more people that wish to not only have an all year round lawn but wants their lawn to look as realistic as possible, this is where two-tone and three-tones artificial grass comes in to play.

The Grandeur 2.0 from ArtificialGrassDirect.com is the perfect example as it has multiple colours mixed with a darker green and non-shine finish, creating a perfect realistic British lawn.

Many factors make artificial grass realistic, such as pile height, pile type and density, as I explain in more detail below, together with our other 3 top picks and why we chose them.

What is Two-Tone or Three-Tone Artificial Grass?

Two-tone or three-tone artificial grass is a type of artificial turf that has a blend of two or three different colours in the grass blades, making it look more realistic and similar to natural lawns in the UK.

The colours mostly used in two-tone grass are green and brown, while three-tone artificial grass usually has green, brown and beige blades of grass.

There is also another type of artificial grass, mostly two-tone, striped artificial grass. This is where the blades of grass are two different colours, usually a lighter green and brown mixed with a darker green and brown, and are arranged in a stripe pattern which can look very effective when used in the right setting.

The main advantage of two-tone or three-tone artificial grass over other types is that it looks much more natural and realistic. It is perfect if you want an artificial lawn almost indistinguishable from a natural one.

What To Look For Before Buying Artificial Grass?

You need to consider a few key factors before purchasing artificial grass. The most important of these are the pile height, pile density and pile type.

• Pile type
• Pile height
• Pile Density

below we will go into more detail about what each of these means and why they are important.

Pile Types

Pile types are also known as yarn shapes, and in artificial grass, there are three main types.

• The V Shape: Was one of the first shapes used in artificial grass because it was believed that it would make the grass blades stand upright, and therefore it would be the most authentic; however, this is not completely true as from a distance, it may look very real but because the way the grass reflects to form the sun it can be obvious that the grass is fake and properly not a realistic as you would have hope for.

• The W Shape: This shape was designed to help overcome the reflection issues from the v shape of grass, and it has proven to be a much more successful design. The blades of grass are cut at an angle so that they reflect the light in different ways, making it harder to tell that they are fake; however, although it was a lot better than its counterpart v shape, it is still less common.

• The C Shape: Then we have the c shape, which was introduced to resolve the problems such as being too reflective to the sun and making the grass look unrealistic; this shape is now the most popular for appearance and most natural-looking; this c shape has also been designed with micro fires that are reinforced by the seam, giving this one that natural look and strength to bounce back making it ideal to high foot traffic areas, pets and children.

There are also other pile type shapes however they are mostly for novelty grasses and not as commonly seen in artificial lawns found in the UK or they are designed for sports pitches such as hockey, rugby or football, nevertheless when you are looking for artificial grass for your garden lawn you will need to pick the one that suits your needs, therefore you need to ask yourself is your garden going to be used a lot, do you have pets or children?

After taking these things into account, you will know what type of artificial grass is best for you.

Pile Height

The next thing to consider is the pile height, which is the measurement from the top of the grass to the bottom. The higher the pile height, the longer the blades of grass will be and the more realistic it will look. Generally speaking, a pile height between 30mm and 40mm is considered the most realistic for UK gardens.

A lower pile height of 20mm is better suited to high foot traffic areas such as patios or play areas as it is more resistant to flattening,

A high pile height is better for areas with less foot traffic as it can flatten over time.

Pile Density

The final factor to consider is the pile density, which is the number of fibres per square meter. The higher the pile density, the more realistic and durable the artificial grass will be.

• High-density piles are between 18000-25000 stitches per square meter
• Medium-density piles are 15000-18000 stitches per square meter
• Low-density piles are 15000-18000 stitches per square meter

High-density piles are usually made from a combination of polyethylene and nylon, whereas low-density piles are usually made from polyethylene only.

Now that you know some of the different factors that make up artificial grass, let's look at our 3 top picks.

Best Realistic Looking Artificial Grass For The UK

1. Artificial Grass Direct - Grandeur 2.0

This is one of my favourite artificial grass out of all the list below; this is because of the tall pile height, and a darker green colour mixed with multiple different colours gives this one a non-shine finish. It has been manufactured with a bounce-back memory yarn, making this luxurious, creating a perfect realistic British lawn all year round.

• Pile height: 45mm
• Grass width: 2 meters To 4 meters
• Grass length: From 1 meter
• Pet friendly: Yes
• Drainage holes: Yes
• UV stabilised: Yes
• Top sand fill required: Yes

2. Artificial Grass Direct - Aspire

The aspire is a great-looking artificial grass for those looking to spruce up a dull area on a budget. although the aspire has the short pile height in our list, it is still a great-looking grass. It is made with a light brown thatched yarn mixed with multiple colours of green, making this one of the best artificial grass on a budget.

• Pile height: 18mm
• Grass width: 2 meters To 4 meters
• Grass length: From 1 meter
• Pet friendly: Yes
• Drainage holes: Yes
• UV stabilised: Yes
• Top sand fill required: Yes

3. Tuda Grass Premier

Step foot onto Tuda Grass Premier, and you'll feel like you're walking on a fantastic lawn straight in your own backyard! This artificial grass is wonderfully thick, lush, and realistic looking - perfect for families with pets or children. Plus, it's easy to care for and pet-friendly.

• Pile height: 40mm
• Grass width: 2 meters To 4 meters
• Grass length: 1 meter To 20 Meters
• Pet friendly: Yes
• Drainage holes: Yes
• UV stabilised: Yes
• Top sand fill Required: No - But is recommended

4. Nomow

Are you looking for a lush, green, yet natural lawn without all the hassle? Nomow Artificial Grass is perfect for you! Made of high-quality materials, Nomow Artificial Grass looks and feels great plus; it’s perfect for kids’ play areas – safe and soft underfoot. Give your lawn the greenest look around with Nomow Artificial Grass today!

• Pile height: 30mm
• Grass width: 2 meters to 4 meters
• Grass length: 2 meters to 25 meters
• Pet friendly: Yes
• Drainage holes: Yes
• UV stabilised: Yes
• No sand fill required: No - But is recommended

4. Evergrass

This realistic grass has a mix of four colours, including a light brown curled base, making it indistinguishable from the real thing. It's perfect for adding some extra green to your space and is soft to walk on barefoot. Plus, it can be vacuumed for easy upkeep.

• Pile height: 20mm
• Grass width: 2 meters to 4 meters
• Grass length: 1.5 meters to 10 meters
• Pet friendly: Yes
• Drainage holes: Yes
• UV stabilised: Yes
• No sand fill required: Yes

Pros And Cons of Artificial Grass

Although there are many benefits to installing artificial grass in your garden, there are also a few drawbacks that you should be aware of before making your decision, below I have highlighted the main pros and cons of artificial grass for you to consider:

Pros of Artificial Grass

• Artificial grass will always look great no matter the weather as it has no impact on the grass, so if it rains or on a warm summer's day, the grass will look great and colourful.
• Artificial grass is much more convenient as it is low maintenance and easy to care for. It doesn't need to be mowed or watered and can last for years with very little upkeep.
• You can enjoy your garden for longer in the year as there is no mud or dirt brought in from wet weather as artificial grass is permeable, so water drains through it.
• Artificial grass can be used in any size or shape of a garden, no matter how big or small. It can even be installed on balconies and roof terraces.
• Perfect for the elderly or disabled due to the low maintenance and non-slip surface.
• Great for people who live away from home and have a garden they can't look after, as artificial grass doesn't need any attention.
• Artificial grass can be much cheaper to maintain in the dryer or wetter areas in the UK.
• It is a great option for pet owners as it is safe, non-toxic for animals, and resistant to stains and odours.
• It is perfect for areas that experience high levels of foot traffic, such as patios, decking and play areas.
• No mud! Artificial grass is ideal for gardens that tend to get muddy as it stays clean and dry all year round.
• It can be installed on concrete, wood, soil and paving slabs.
• A large amount of choice in colours and depths of grass fibres means you can find the perfect artificial grass for your garden.
• Durable and hardwearing; therefore, it is perfect for families with young children.
• Due to the large improvements over the years, artificial grass is much softer and more comfortable to lay on and walk on.
• Artificial grass comes in many different colours, piles, heights and densities nowadays; therefore, you can find one that suits your garden the best.
• Artificial grass is great if you suffer from hay fever because you don't mow the grass as you would with real grass therefore, you won't fill the garden with pollen.

Cons of Artificial Grass

Although there are a lot of advantages to having artificial grass, there are some disadvantages that could sway you to opt for the real thing and just have real grass instead.

• Because artificial grass is made of plastic, it is not full of natural materials required for wildlife to live; therefore, it is not so attractive to birds and other wildlife; with that being said, there are ways around this by adding in plants or having a border around the outside allowing natural materials and plants to grow.
• It can be quite expensive to install good-quality artificial grass, particularly if you need to have the ground prepared beforehand.
• The initial cost of buying artificial grass is more expensive than natural turf.
• It can look fake and unnatural, especially if not installed correctly.
• Walking on it in direct sunlight can be quite hot as the material doesn't allow heat to escape.
• Replacing it can be difficult to dispose of the old grass as it is not biodegradable.
• Artificial grass will not last as long as natural grass that is looked after as artificial grass has a lifespan of between 10-20 years with most manufacturers, such as {ArtificalGrass-Driect.com}, which are one of the largest artificial grass manufacturers in Europe.

I have an article for you for 5 Tips To Prolong The Life Span Of Artificial Grass.

Conclusion

So, overall, there are a lot of pros to using artificial grass in your garden. It is low maintenance, durable, safe for pets and can be perfect for high foot traffic areas. Although the initial cost may be more than buying natural turf, over time, it is more economical because you won't have the hassle of maintaining it. Just remember to choose good quality artificial grass and install it correctly to avoid it looking fake!

The Artificial Grass Direct - Grandeur 2.0 is our favourite due to its multiple colours and larger tall pile height mixed with a dark green non-shine finish, pet-friendly and luxurious memory yarn and although it is one of the most costly out on our list, if you have the money I think you will not be disappointed with the way your garden will look like for the years to come.

If you are working on a budget, then the Artificial Grass Direct - Aspire is another of our favourites as it is the perfect choice for smaller gardens or simply to spruce up a dull area.

Although these two are our favourites, you can dismiss the other 3 on our list as they are on the list for a reason; they are all pet-friendly, UV stabilised, and they all look and feel great, and I'm sure you will be happy with the way they look.

I hope this article has helped you understand the different things to look for before you decide which artificial grass looks realistic for UK gardens.