Where artificial turf wins
Deep shade, tight courtyards, dog runs, rooftop and pool surrounds, and any area that has already killed two lawns. Turf gives a permanently green surface with no mowing and no irrigation.
- Shaded areas where grass never establishes
- High-traffic play areas and dog runs
- Small courtyards where a mower is impractical
- Properties with water restrictions or no irrigation
Where natural lawn wins
Large open areas, hot full-sun spaces, and anywhere the feel and cooling effect of real grass matters. Natural grass is cooler underfoot in direct summer sun, is cheaper per square metre to install, and repairs itself.
- Large gardens where turf cost becomes significant
- Full-sun entertainment lawns
- Sites where soil temperature and cooling matter
Both stand on the base
Artificial turf laid on unprepared ground ripples, sinks and pools water. Natural lawn laid on compacted rubble browns off in the first dry spell. Either way, the base — compacted, graded, drained — is where the money should go.