Saying so long to a wet summer – and goodbye to artificial turf

With reports saying that the UK saw 170 per cent more rainfall in July than the usual amount, and some parts of the country experiencing their wettest summer ever – it’s time to look at small choices we make which can impact climate change.

One way that experts have suggested we can all play our part, is to choose real grass for our gardens over artificial turf. This comes as news from a recent report shows that every garden in a Hampshire newbuild development has been carpeted with plastic turf.

Garden machinery specialist Cobra has warned people against choosing artificial turf – which may seem appealing due to its low-maintenance qualities, but actually contains several hidden dangers. 

Peter Chaloner, Managing Director for Cobra, said: “With the recent news that every house on a new homes development has been kitted out with artificial turf, we are urging other housebuilders and in fact anyone who has a garden, to choose real grass instead.

“Artificial turf may look nice but it hides a multitude of dangers which can adversely affect your children, pets and the environment around us. Here are just some of the reasons we would advise against choosing plastic grass.”

1.     The environmental impact is hugely detrimental.

Artificial turf does not provide any food for living creatures, which means it acts as a deterrent to vital insects and pollinators which play a hugely important role in our food chain. Not only that but it restricts access to the soil beneath for burrowing creatures and to the ground above for soil dwellers such as worms. It is essentially a shield to repel living creatures, at a time when we are encouraged to attract and encourage as many of these vital organisms as possible.

On the other hand, grass takes in carbon dioxide and releases oxygen, and acts as a home for insects, beetles and worms, and encourages birds and pollinators like bees. Particularly when kept at a longer length, grass can be a haven for vital wildlife.

Not only that but artificial grass can contribute to global warming by absorbing significantly more radiation than living grass, and it is more likely to cause flooding due to surface run off after periods of heavy rainfall.

2.    Artificial turf is filled with potentially harmful chemicals.

Most synthetic turf is made from a cocktail of recycled tyres, plastic carpet and other plastic components, which contain carcinogens, neurotoxicants, mutagens, and endocrine disruptors – toxic PFAS compounds. PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a class of about 12,000 chemicals often used to make products resist water, stains and heat. They are called ‘forever chemicals’ because they don’t naturally break down, and are linked to cancer, liver problems, thyroid issues, birth defects, kidney disease, decreased immunity and other serious health problems.

Few studies have actually looked at the health outcomes of exposure to artificial turf, which means that we just don’t know yet how serious exposure could be. In fact, last year the city of Boston in the US joined a growing list of places which have ordered no new artificial turf to be installed in city parks, due to the unknown nature of the health hazards potentially posed. In the UK, the RHS has banned artificial turf at the Chelsea Flower Show due to similar concerns.

3.    It can reach extreme temperatures – causing burns and even melting shoes!

With temperatures soaring across Europe, many of us dream of enjoying spending a few hours relaxing in our garden. But laying on artificial turf could be an unpleasant experience – and even burn animals and children – as on a hot day, it can reach temperatures of around 60 degrees Celsius. In fact, reports say that playing on synthetic turf can melt shoes, blister hands and feet, and induce dehydration and heatstroke. Not only that, but when it heats up it can smell quite unpleasant – literally like burning plastic!

4.   It’s not as maintenance-free as you might think.

Many choose artificial lawn for its fuss-free qualities, but in order to keep it looking its best it does still need to be regularly maintained, by being vacuumed and cleared of litter and moss growth. Even when taken care of, it is only estimated to last 10-20 years, and although it can be recycled, the process isn’t easy. It can only be done at specialist plants after a specific cleaning process, meaning that most of the time, it is just sent to landfill sites.

Peter Chaloner, Managing Director of Cobra, said: “We really hope that more people will understand the dangers of artificial turf and go for real grass instead. We often hear people’s reasoning for choosing artificial is because mowing is deemed as a hassle. With a Cobra lawnmower, whatever the size of your patch of grass, it can easily be taken care of – and the benefits that go along with it really cannot be measured.”

Cobra is the leading name in garden machinery and has the UK’s largest range of powered lawnmowers. With more than 50 different models to choose from, there’s the perfect mower for every type of gardener.

For more information visit www.cobragarden.co.uk. 

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Editors notes

The Cobra Garden range is constantly expanding and now consists of over 130 products to cover both domestic and professional requirements. Cobra incorporate a comprehensive range of petrol, electric and cordless lawnmowers, handheld machines and lawncare products.