Artificial turf is big business with one in ten UK homeowners having already replaced their natural lawn with artificial grass and another 29% considering making the switch according to recent research.
The potential to grow the market is enormous and the trend to make more use of outdoor space for busy families and the use of synthetic turf in smaller spaces around patios, in urban gardens and on balconies has accelerated the appeal.
After a period of strong growth, the cost of living pressures have subdued some of the market over the last two years but the premium sector is holding up well and pent-up demand in the middle market is expected to return quickly once consumer confidence improves.
More variable weather also feeds the desire to make the most of the garden. Many feel the UK summer of 2024 was one of the worst for garden use with relatively few days of usable warm, sunny weather – many of which had to be spent on garden maintenance, rather than leisure. And it’s calculated the average Brit spends two months of his or her entire life mowing!
Some of the counter arguments to the convenience of artificial turf are environmental of course – but gains have been made here too.
Suppliers are using more sustainable processes for manufacturing and
to aid recycling.
And there is an awareness that natural grass is not blame-free in the debate. It needs chemical treatments, energy-hungry mowing and maintenance, and can consume large quantities of scarce water in hot weather. And although grass cuttings make good compost, in practice the clippings make up the third largest component of solid landfill waste.
All these factors have focused suppliers on developing increasingly sophisticated and high quality product portfolios and we focus on three of the market leaders here.
Condor Grass is one of Europe’s largest manufacturer of artificial turf
for landscaping, leisure and sports, and can look back on a versatile
year in 2024.
It offers every conceivable artificial turf solution, from grass strips for apartment balconies to FIFA-certified football pitches – artificial grass for every budget.
“The strong rise of artificial grass for the residential market may have stagnated, but because of our wide range we were able to deliver enough beautiful projects,” says Kim Koning of Condor.
“Think not only of gardens for ordinary houses, but also those of hotels, schools and companies. But we have also been able to make many athletes happy with beautiful new sports fields throughout England. Something to be proud of!” he adds.
With decades of experience, Condor Grass has reached a leading position in the landscape market and supplies a Dutch quality product at an internationally competitive price.
Lano’s artificial grass collection has become an increasingly popular choice for homeowners, businesses, and public spaces.
Made from high-quality materials, the ranges are designed to
closely resemble natural grass, with varying shades of green and realistic textures. It provides a clean and uniform appearance, enhancing the beauty of any outdoor space and making it ideal for installation in a variety of settings, from residential lawns and rooftops to commercial spaces and event venues.
Novoturf from Kellars has proved to be a UK favourite with a broad portfolio of 15 ranges to suit the widest variety of applications in residential, hospitality and commercial settings.
The family and pet friendly credentials, low maintenance and perfect aesthetics of Novoturf fit well with the vogue to make more use of outdoor spaces beyond the folding doors and patio windows.
Artificial grass is a highly discerning purchase for many buyers to achieve the authenticity they seek so Novoturf’s breadth of choice is important. Ranges roll out in different densities, pile heights from 20 mm to 42mm, varying shades of green and in 2, 4 and 5m width rolls.