Where Did The Sun Go?

It’s 3:30am, pouring rain outside and our dog is whining at the foot of the bed. As I reluctantly get up to let him outside I think to myself “Hey, it could be a lot worse; at least we have artificial grass in the backyard!”. While other pet owners will be wiping down muddy paws in an attempt of keeping their homes clean and dry, I have the luxury of simply opening and closing the back door.

I’ve always loved artificial grass for the easy maintenance and perfect aesthetics throughout the year, but nothing could make me appreciate it as much as going through a West Coast Winter with Maxximus, our 90 lb Labrador. The absence of maintenance is nice in the summer time, but through the fall and winter season it’s the drainage and cleanliness that keep me happy

In BC, most lawns turn muddy by the time October rolls around. Consequently, every time a dog is let outside, their paws (and often much more) need to be wiped down to prevent grass and dirt from being tracked throughout the home. For those who don’t have pets it’s often the children who require the same treatment! Thankfully a correctly installed artificial lawn will eliminate the mess from your yard and keep it usable for the whole family throughout every season.

The key to a properly draining artificial lawn is in the base construction. Virtually all artificial grasses are designed to percolate rain water at a much higher rate than it will ever fall, but this is only useful if the material directly under the grass can allow water to flow at the same rate. Using material such as sand or crusher fines may provide marginal improvements to your existing drainage, but you still may be subject to pooling and soft ground at times during the rainy season. Furthermore, if the temperature drops below freezing after the ground has been saturated, these materials can ‘heave’ and lose their compaction. Using ¾” roadbase as a base material will allow for optimal drainage and retained compaction throughout the lifespan of your artificial grass.

If areas in your yard are exceptionally wet or soggy throughout the winter, it may be necessary to create a trench filled with drain rock to allow the water to escape. The need for this can be assessed during an on-site consultation with one of our estimators, who will guide you through every step of the process required to properly install your synthetic grass.

Whether it’s for children, pets, or sports, artificial grass can be an absolute life changer when done right. When you choose to work with Precision Greens, you get so much more than a new lawn. It’s not all about having less work or a more beautiful space; those things are great but there’s so much more. It’s about creating an environment with year-round usability and cleanliness for your kids, your dogs, and your home.

We all enjoy the warmth of the summer sunshine, but with artificial grass the fall and winter aren’t so bad either!