Forecast: Blue Skies and Green Grass, All Summer Long

Summer is here and that means there are a few unbearably hot days ahead for us. It also means that many of us will end up with a crispy brown topping on our beloved lawns. As much as we associate lush green lawns with lazy summer days, grass doesn't actually fare too well when we get into long periods of double figure temperatures. Summer is edging closer and days get hotter so water usage bans will no doubt come into effect soon, followed swiftly by sorry-looking brown lawns and dustbowl gardens. There is a way you and your garden can fend off the scars of summer though. If you want to keep your garden looking green and tidy, even in the height of the summer heat, then artificial grass can help. Here are a few of the ways an artificial lawn could help you out this summer:

Handle the Water Usage Ban Like a Pro

So, when they eventually impose a water usage ban how will you manage? Easily. Artificial grass is low maintenance and because it doesn't need to be watered, there is no need for constant watering which is great because you can't miss what you don't use. Not only do synthetic lawns eliminate the need to water, they don't turn drown and crispy when we have an extended dry spell which means even if there's a little bit of a drought, you can still enjoy a lush green lawn.

Sunny Days Are No Sweat

As nice as it is to find an excuse for spending hours on end in the sun, the novelty wears off when doing so means you have to slave away mowing the lawn. Luckily for you, artificial grass doesn't actually grow so it doesn't need mowing or trimming. That means you can save time and effort, spending you afternoons enjoying your sunny garden instead of sweating it out and getting it ready for everybody else to enjoy!

Bake Away

An artificial lawn's health and appearance isn't dependent on the weather as natural grass is. So even when the sun is baking and baring down on it all day long, you won't end up with sorry-looking yellow patches or a dried up dustbowl beneath the dead and damaged grass.

Perfect for Al Fresco Parties

One of the best things about summer is how social people can be; long days spent exploring the outdoors together or quiet evenings on the patio with ice cold drinks and fabulous company. Having lots of social gatherings on dry and brittle summer grass can leave you with a worn, patchy lawn if you have natural grass. However, with artificial grass you can have the kids playing in the garden all day, every day and adults partying in it all night long without any serious wear on the lawn itself.

Hassle-free Holidays

Going on holiday often requires some sort of prep to ensure the house is locked up tight, someone is picking up your mail and your pets are taken care of whilst you're away. On top of these preparations, many of you will have to arrange for someone to water and mow your lawn when you're away; this extra hassle isn't necessary though. With artificial grass you can jet off without worrying about the garden. Whether you're going on a last minute weekend break or a three week stint around Europe, you won't come home to a crispy brown lawn or an out of control jungle.

These are just a few of the ways in which artificial grass can help make your summer easier and keep your grass greener - whatever the weather. So if you want a lawn that can stand up to the pressures of showers and heat waves without so much as a flinch, call RC Artificial Grass today and we will be happy to help you find the ideal artificial lawn!     

Artificial Grass To The Rescue

If you’re a gardening or fake lawn fan then you will like hearing when artificial grass makes its mark on the world, especially when that mark makes a real difference. You probably already know that fake lawns look great and make life easy but when they are used as tools for helping people and solving problems they are something to be proud of. Read on to see what we mean.

California is in the midst of its worst drought on record. California’s desperately dry period comes at the same time as much of America is suffering from a Polar Vortex. Despite the arctic conditions in America’s East Coast and Mid-West, California’s temperatures are uncomfortably high and the forecast seems to be permanently set to sunny.

California’s current drought is being labeled as the region’s driest period since rainfall records began which is making life increasingly difficult for the state’s 38 million residents as well as its giant economy driven by primarily by agriculture. Homes, businesses, nature reserves and farmland are all suffering from the dry drought conditions and the restrictions imposed in the wake of them. In January 2014 California’s Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of drought emergency following 2013’s record low rainfall recorded in San Francisco (5.59 inches) and Los Angeles (3.6 inches). On top of this low rainfall, the snow water from snow packs like those in the Sierra Nevada Mountains is just 12 per cent of what it normally is in winter – a significant concern considering the snowpack provides a third of the state’s water supply. The snowpack is not the only tell-tale sign of how serious California’s current drought is though.

The San Gabriel Reservoir in the Angeles National Forest has a “bath tub ring” around its basin which shows how dramatically its water levels have dropped whilst the great Folsom Lake is so dried up that it looks more like a puddle surrounded by a sandy beach. The lake’s waters have receded so drastically that dried up fish scatter the lake bed which is becoming a visitor attraction itself, the submerged towns that once stood where the lake now resides being visible and accessible (pictures here). Meadows normally covered in snow are bone dry and appear to be in the midst of summer whilst the Sierra Nevada range has faced more challenges than a disappearing snowpack. The range’s forests are dried and primed for major forest fires like the devastating rim fire that destroyed hundreds of acres in Yosemite National Park in 2013 along with the Colby fire which ripped through homes in Southern California.

These conditions and the drought that caused them are nothing new according to scientists who have been studying the region and its long-term climate. California has suffered from such patterns before and megadroughts are considered part and parcel of the state’s semi-arid climate. Some of the droughts evidenced by geological markers occurred long before records began, the most severe of them lasting for 180-240 years. Scientists like Scott Stine (professor of geography and environmental studies at California State University) are concerned that California reacts to droughts as a short term (5-7 year) issue but the emergencies are historically more frequent and much longer lasting.

In the wake of these scientific revelation and all of the current drought-related problems, restrictions have been put in place with some counties in the state having been banned from watering their lawns and all Californians being asked to reduce water consumption by 20 per cent.

It is here that artificial lawns come in. With so many uses for water and not enough water to go around, the people of California need to find alternatives for everyday things. Long, leisurely showers are a thing of the past, swimming pools are not the home essential they once were so it makes sense that where possible, installing, and using alternatives that don’t require water at all is the best way to help California in the drought crisis. Artificial grass is one such alternative. It allows people to stay proud of their homes without wasting water which can keep spirits high in trialing times. At the moment there is a boost in sales of fake lawns in California, following the driest year in state history (2013) and The Daily Mail explained that this is because “fake grass has emerged as a way of achieving a constantly green front yard while saving water”. So, as people are being asked to adjust their entire lifestyles, stopping “long solo showers” and following requests not to flush the toilet more than needed, it is nice to know that problems which normally waste water (like lush green lawns) have practical and sustainable solutions. Whilst there may be a million ways to help the Californians in their difficult drought, artificial grass can do its bit by giving people the freedom to focus on the bigger issues at hand and take other measures that could make a real difference.

The Common Uses of Artificial Grass

As the days go by and the years pass, more and more people are choosing to use synthetic grass lawns indoors as well as outdoors! This unique alternative may not sound like a desirable addition to your family home, however here are some examples of just some of the indoor uses that synthetic grass lawns can bring to your home:

• Living room - The living room is often dedicated to pure family time and is recognized as a chance to unwind after a long, hard day at work, so replacing a cozy carpet with an artificial turf may sound out of the question. However, this carpet alternative can bring your living room to life whilst helping to settle a hectic atmosphere and supplant the air with a friendly, tranquil ambience perfect for those peaceful family nights. Accompanied by natural bamboo furniture, potted plants and crisp white cushions, this living room style really is nature at its best.

• Meditation room - If you enjoy taking time for yourself, lighting some incense and reflecting on the day just gone then transforming a bleak, empty spare room into a meditation room can be a fantastic idea. A meditation room is a safe haven set aside for those days where you feel the need to relieve yourself of all the stress from the day through a session of unhindered relaxation and laying an artificial turf in this room can do just that. The sense of fresh natural materials can help add to the authentic feel of the space and filling the area with a variety of incense, simple decorations and a lucky Buddha you can have the perfect meditation room.

• Children's bedroom - Fake grass in your little ones bedroom is such a great idea to inspire further creativity at such an early age. Transform your little boys' bedroom into a football pitch so your champion can still practice his football skills even when the English weather is dull and dreary. You can also set up bunk beds for your twins and turn their bedroom into a mini adventure playground. Let their imaginations run wild with a synthetic grass lawn.

These are just some of the many indoor uses of fake grass lawns for your home. Renovate your home today and preserve that new house feeling with synthetic grass lawns.

- See more at: http://www.artificiallawn.co.uk/home-uses-of-artificial-lawns/#sthash.HRt44mT3.dpuf