If it's a toss-up between artificial grass and the real thing, then we don’t think you can beat real grass.
However, if you’ve got pets, poor soil or no soil at all (such as on a roof terrace or balcony for example) then artificial grass is one route you could go down.
Artificial grass is incredibly hard-wearing and modern technology means these synthetic turfs are looking (and feeling) more and more like the real thing.
In the UK, most artificial grass is made from polypropylene or a nylon polyamide, and as we all know, with plastics comes some environmental concerns such as microplastics finding their way into, well, pretty much everything.
Our advice if you want to go artificial, is to research and look for synthetic turfs that are (both the matting and fibres) 100% recyclable.
And whilst we would never promote artificial grass over the real thing, modern eco-grass (from a reputable source) is a good option if you can’t grow a proper lawn.
We’ve already discussed whether garden furniture can go on real grass, so this month we want to explore whether you can safely put our metal outdoor furniture on artificial grass too.
Is it OK to put our metal garden furniture on a synthetic lawn?
The best way to think about an artificial lawn is to think of it like a carpet inside your home...
It is perfectly safe to place furniture on a carpet, however, you have to be prepared for it to leave indentations, especially with heavier pieces.
Also, just like carpet, with artificial turf, you get what you pay for. You get thick artificial grass and thin artificial grass.
The cheap ones will show signs of wear and tear quickly, while a good-quality thick artificial lawn will be much more hardwearing.
So, yes, it is perfectly OK to put our lawn furniture on artificial grass, but that comes with a few notes of caution.
Plus, we have a few helpful tips and trips to keep your artificial grass looking great and minimise wear.
1. Make sure the garden furniture is in good condition
The first thing to be aware of is the condition of the lawn furniture you want to put on your artificial grass. Check it is in good condition and that there are no sharp edges, chips, splinters, etc on the feet.
Our collection features smooth rounded feet so there should be no sharp edges. They also come supplied with plastic screw-in protective pads as shown in the photo above.
These are primarily to stop the metal from getting chipped on a harder surface such as stone and to give you some adjustment on an uneven surface but we would advise you still use them when putting the furniture on artificial grass.
If you have garden furniture made from any other materials such as wood or rattan, then the finish on the feet must be as smooth as our garden furniture. You don’t want anything that could damage the artificial grass fibres or tear the matting/backing.
2. Make sure you move your garden furniture around every few months
Just as it would with a carpet inside the home, the garden furniture (like a sofa or dining table inside) will leave an indent in your artificial due to compression.
The best way to tackle this is to move it every few months or so. You don’t need to move it far. Just shuffle it off the compressed spots so all feet are on a patch of new grass.
This is a big advantage we have with our cast aluminium garden furniture. It has the robust feel you’d expect from metal but is much lighter than iron and steel, so it is easier to pick up and move.
If you place heavy garden furniture, made from iron or timber, for example, then it is even more important they are moved regularly. The indentations could become permanent and hard to remove.
If you know from the start that you want to place heavier pieces such as a large outdoor sofa on your artificial lawn, then make sure you go for one of the more heavyweight synthetic turfs that are designed to be more durable and hardwearing.
What is the best type of garden furniture to put on artificial grass?
While there's no such thing as artificial grass furniture, if you are concerned about it leaving imprints on your new artificial lawn, the best solution might be to purchase something better suited in terms of weight for your outdoor space.
Of course, we are biased. However, we think cast aluminium is the perfect combination of robust but lightweight with a small footprint from the chair and table legs.
Cast aluminium has enough weight to give it that quality feel. It will not blow over easily but is light enough to pick up and move.
Plus, it is low maintenance and our plastic foot pads will further help protect your artificial lawn.
How to protect your artificial lawn from garden furniture
If you have concerns about your lawn furniture, we have some great solutions here that will help minimise any potential damage but still keep your outdoor space looking stylish.
1. Add felt or rubber pads
If you own our garden furniture and you are still a little concerned about the plastic foot pads on your artificial grass, then a great hack is to apply some soft waterproof felt or rubber foot pads.
Adsamm® sell a great range on Amazon that is low-cost and the adhesive is strong so they stay on when used outdoors.
They will come off over time but their 20 mm rubber pad is a nice neat fit and they come in a pack of 50 (pictured above) so easy to reapply.
2. Add rubber cups
If you have garden furniture from another supplier that does not have plastic foot pads then another great solution is the rubber-style feet cups.
If for example, you have a square wooden set, then the Flyshop Furniture Caps (pictured above) are a great option.
Alternatively, if it is a round leg like our range, then the TARIO's Silicone Feet Cups (above) would fit great and help to further protect your artificial grass from wear and tear.
3. Pair with a garden rug
Whilst the above solutions will help to prevent the lawn furniture from damaging the fibres on your synthetic grass, they will still potentially leave indentations, so keep moving every so often.
Alternatively, you can greatly reduce the impressions left by pairing it with a Garden Rug. Make a feature of it and incorporate a little extra style.
Dunelm has a great range of stylish garden rugs that are hard-wearing and fully weather-resistant, such as their Traditional Reversible Outdoor Rug in Blue (above).
4. Pair with a stone patio or timber decking
If you wanted to create a seating or dining area that’s a little more permanent, then maybe the best solution would be to pair your artificial grass with something a little more permanent such as a timber deck or paved patio (as our customer has done in the photo above).
That way you get the best of both worlds, it will look great and the different materials will not only add visual interest but can also help make a smaller space look bigger or zone a larger plot to create a little more intimacy.
How to maintain artificial turf
If you do get indentations in your artificial grass then the important thing to remember is not to pick or pull at the synthetic fibres.
Artificial grass is constructed from a yarn (the plastic grass fibres) and the backing (which is often made from rubber). Picking at it too hard could cause you to rip the matting or thin it out.
The best way to tackle indentations is to pour a little warm water on, leave it for a minute or two and then gently brush it with a soft bristle brush. This should be enough to help to get the fibres decompressed and standing back up.
In terms of general maintenance, it is one many of us overlook when we lay synthetic lawns. However, if you want to keep them in good condition, then a little TLC is needed.
The video below from the Fixing Expert is a great place to start as it shows you step-by-step how best to clean an artificial lawn and there are some helpful tips on how to keep it looking like new:
As a final word of caution, don’t put a BBQ or Fire Pit on artificial grass. Even if raised or on legs, the heat can melt the synthetic fibres.
Most garden furniture such as our range will not cause damage to a good-quality artificial lawn. Just move it an inch or two regularly, and if you have any indentations then brush them out.
If you do accidentally damage your lawn, then ring a professional and they can often advise and repair.
If you have any photos of our garden furniture on your artificial grass, then we’d love to see a few snaps for our Do Some Good charity campaign. You can tag us @LazySusanFurniture on Instagram or Facebook or email them to us at sales@lazysusanfurniture.co.uk.
