The synthetic lawn and your garden

When giving the outdoor backyard an upgrade, it's worthwhile considering a synthetic lawn - low maintenance, clean and manageable are just some of the benefits expert Cam McGregor sees in the turf.

How and why did you get into the artificial turf business?

I used to work in the civil landscape industry, but I was concerned about the demands that lawns placed on our dwindling water resources. After some research, including an overseas study trip, I realised that Australia was a leader in synthetic grass technology and I decided to start up Smartgrass.

What are the advantages of artificial turf over natural grass?

Compared with natural lawns, artificial turf has increased 'playability', high durability and low maintenance costs. New technology even enables Smartgrass to capture rain in water tanks beneath the surface, which can then be used on the garden.

How does artificial grass stack up against natural lawn in terms of aesthetics?

Artificial turf these days is a far cry from that old indoor-cricket-pitch look of yesteryear. Our product is made up of natural-coloured polyethylene fibres that blow in the wind and look absolutely natural. It's softer than real grass and many people are unable to tell the difference.

Does artificial grass require much maintenance to keep it looking good?

Not a great deal, but the more regular your maintenance the better the product will look and perform. We usually recommend a fortnightly sweep with a soft broom or plastic rake (to manipulate the fibre pile and keep it fresh and clean) and a yearly inspection of the sand/rubber infill.

Is the market for synthetic lawn increasing? If so, why do you think this is happening?

The market has grown significantly in the past four years, and acceptance of the product with the public has tripled in the past fiscal year. People have a great deal of pride in their homes, and artificial turf is the most sustainable way to have a lush, green lawn.

How do you see the future of artificial grass in terms of technology, popularity and aesthetics?

We feel the future is very bright. The technology of the fibres is advancing rapidly and we are even working with the AFL to develop artificial grass that football can be played on. There is even a product to spray on that makes it smell like freshly mown grass.

So to discover ways in which you can integrate synthetic lawn into your garden, contact a turf specialist today: