Rutland Driveways & Landscaping 01572 344119 Site visit
Artificial grass lawn beside a porcelain patio and lit raised beds at a new-build stone house
Rutland · Stamford · Oakham

Artificial grass & turf

We install both, so we will recommend whichever your garden actually needs. Deep shade, dogs and trampolines argue for artificial; big open gardens and tight budgets usually argue for turf. Either way, the preparation.

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5 yearWritten guarantee
VubaApproved resin installer
NVQQualified
8 yearsTrading in Rutland

Artificial grass suits small shaded gardens, dog runs and family lawns that never recover. It lasts ten to fifteen years when laid on a compacted, free-draining base with fixed edges; laid on soil it ripples and lifts. New turf needs the compacted subsoil broken up and screened topsoil underneath.

Typical time
1–3 days for most gardens
Lifespan
10–15 years laid properly
Guarantee
5 years, in writing

Your fixed price comes in writing after the site visit.

Artificial grass & turf

Artificial grass & turf

We install both, so we will recommend whichever your garden actually needs. Deep shade, dogs and trampolines argue for artificial; big open gardens and tight budgets usually argue for turf. Either way, the preparation underneath decides the result.

Artificial grass without the regrets

Most bad artificial lawns share the same faults: laid over poorly compacted ground that settles into hollows, visible joins, and cheap grass that flattens and shines. Our installations avoid all three:

  • Excavation and a compacted granite-dust base laser-levelled before any grass is unrolled
  • Premium 35–40mm pile grasses with natural multi-tone colour, brushed and sand-dressed
  • Joins planned away from sightlines, edges fixed to timber or steel restraints
  • Free-draining build-up, with pet-friendly systems for dog owners

Real turf, properly prepared

For new lawns we cultivate, level, firm and rake before laying cultivated turf, then leave you with a straightforward watering and first-cut plan. A lawn laid on rubble and hope never recovers; one laid on prepared soil establishes in weeks.

Which should you pick?

  • Artificial: shade, dogs, play areas, small courtyard lawns, zero-maintenance priorities
  • Turf: ideal for larger gardens and anyone who loves wildlife and planting
  • Both: plenty of our gardens use turf in the open and artificial in the shaded, hammered corners

Lawn beyond saving?

Send us a photo and rough dimensions and we will tell you what it needs — sometimes that is renovation rather than replacement, and we will say so.

Recent finishes

The kind of finish we build

Artificial grass lawn beside a porcelain patio and lit raised beds at a new-build stone house
Artificial grass lawn beside a porcelain patio and lit raised beds at a new-build stone house
Porcelain seating terrace and lawn screened by black slatted fencing, lit at dusk
Porcelain seating terrace and lawn screened by black slatted fencing
Long lawn framed by clipped hedges and deep planted borders
Long lawn framed by clipped hedges and deep planted borders
★★★★★

Rated 5.0 from 37 Google reviews

“Lewis and his colleagues were very professional, friendly, hardworking and good value. They worked hard to get the job done efficiently, offered advice and were very knowledgeable. They even worked during the rain to complete our fence, decking and lawn. …”

Will · Fence, decking and lawn — Google review

“Lewis and his team recently carried out the fitting of a European oak clad sleeper wall and the construction of new steps leading from the patio up into the lawn area at our home in Lyddington. We are really pleased with the result, it looks great and is exactly what we wanted. …”

Sally, Lyddington · Oak clad sleeper wall and garden steps — Google review
Read the reviews
Questions

Things people ask us

Is artificial grass OK for dogs?
Yes, with the right system: a permeable base, pet-rated grass and the correct infill. It rinses clean and cannot be dug up.
How long does artificial grass last?
Good grass on a proper base looks right for 12–15 years in a family garden. The cheap stuff can look tired in three, which is why we do not fit it.
When is the best time of year to lay real turf?
Autumn and spring are ideal, but with watering it can be laid most of the year. We will be straight with you if conditions are against it.
Does artificial grass get hot in the sun?
Yes, artificial grass gets much hotter than real grass in direct summer sun, and on a hot day it can be uncomfortable to walk on barefoot or for pets to lie on. Lighter colours and grasses with heat-reducing yarns run a little cooler, and a spray with the hose cools the surface for a while. It is one reason real turf often suits open, sunny gardens better and artificial grass suits shaded ones.
Does artificial grass smell when dogs use it?
It can, if urine soaks into a base that does not drain or into infill that holds it. A free-draining sub-base, pet-rated grass with a fully permeable backing and the right infill prevent most of the problem. Rinse the areas the dog uses regularly, more often in hot weather, and use an enzyme cleaner made for artificial grass if a smell builds up. Pick up solids as you would on a lawn.
How do you maintain artificial grass?
Brush it against the pile every few weeks to keep the fibres upright, blow or rake off leaves before they rot down, and rinse it occasionally. Once or twice a year, a stiffer brush and a moss or weed treatment keep it fresh, especially in damp shade. Keep barbecues, fire pits and cigarette ends off it, because the fibres melt, and watch for strong sunlight reflected from windows, which can scorch it.
Does artificial grass drain when it rains?
Yes, water passes through the perforated or permeable backing into the sub-base below, so a properly laid lawn is usable soon after rain. How well it drains depends on what is underneath: on heavy clay, water needs a free-draining sub-base and sometimes a drain to carry it away, or it ponds under the grass and starts to smell. Laid straight onto soil, it drains badly and soon ripples.
Can artificial grass be laid on concrete or an old patio?
Yes, as long as the surface is sound and water can get away. A foam shockpad underneath softens the feel and stops joints and cracks in the slabs showing through, and the grass is glued at the edges rather than pinned. If the concrete has no fall, drainage holes are drilled so water does not sit under the grass. Loose or rocking slabs must be fixed first, or they will show.
Do weeds grow through artificial grass?
Very few, if the ground is dug out and a weed membrane and compacted base go down first. Occasional weeds can grow in dust and leaf litter on top of the grass, or creep in at unfixed edges, but they are shallow-rooted and pull out easily. Keeping the surface brushed and leaves cleared stops most of them, and a weedkiller labelled safe for artificial grass deals with the rest.
Is artificial grass bad for the environment?
It has real downsides: it is a plastic product, it gives no habitat to insects or birds, it does not cool the garden or support soil life the way a lawn does, and recycling at the end of its life is still limited. It does save mowing, feeding and watering. In many gardens the sensible balance is real turf in the open and artificial grass only where shade, wear or dogs mean grass will not grow.
Is artificial grass cheaper than real turf?
No, artificial grass costs more to install than real turf, because the ground is dug out and replaced with a compacted, laser-levelled base and the grass itself is a premium product, while turf needs only prepared ground and topsoil. Over the years artificial grass saves on mowing, feeding and watering, which narrows the gap, but it needs replacing after around 10–15 years, so it is rarely the cheaper choice overall.
What affects the cost of an artificial grass lawn?
The main factors are the size and shape of the lawn, how much ground has to be dug out and taken away, access for barrows and skips, the quality of grass you choose and the edging. Grass comes on rolls of fixed widths, usually 2m or 4m, so awkward shapes create offcuts that are still paid for. Pet systems, shockpads and laying over concrete all change the build-up and the price.

Request a site visit

We measure up, check levels and drainage, and send a written proposal with the build-up, the programme and one whole price. No pressure and no follow-up sales calls.

Request a site visit Call 01572 344119
☎Call 01572 344119 Site visit