Artificial grass divides people more than almost anything else we install. Some homeowners love it and would never go back. Others try it, dislike it, and have it taken up two years later. In our experience the difference usually comes down to two things: whether it was the right choice for that particular garden, and whether it was installed properly. This guide covers what artificial grass genuinely costs in Cheshire, what separates a convincing lawn from an obviously fake one, how it copes with dogs, and the situations where we would honestly steer you towards real turf instead.
What Artificial Grass Costs in Cheshire
Supplied and professionally fitted, most domestic artificial grass in Cheshire falls between £60 and £100 per square metre. The grass itself is a surprisingly small part of that. The bulk of the cost is the groundwork underneath, which is exactly where cheap quotes make their savings.
| Lawn size | Typical use | Indicative installed cost |
|---|---|---|
| 20 m² | Small courtyard or front garden | £1,400 to £2,200 |
| 40 m² | Typical terraced or semi rear garden | £2,600 to £4,000 |
| 80 m² | Larger family garden | £5,000 to £7,800 |
| 150 m² | Large plot or full lawn replacement | £9,000 to £14,500 |
Several things push a quote up or down. Poor access means everything is barrowed rather than machined, which adds labour. Awkward shapes mean more cutting, more joins and more waste. Removing an existing lawn or patio adds excavation and tipping charges. Heavy clay ground, which is common right across the Cheshire Plain, sometimes needs a deeper build-up or extra drainage before anything is laid.
The number that matters most
Ask any installer what depth they excavate to and what goes underneath. A proper domestic installation typically means digging out around 75 to 100mm, then building back up with a compacted stone sub-base, a laying course, a weed membrane and treated timber or composite edging. If a quote is dramatically cheaper than the others, this is almost always what has been left out.
What Makes Artificial Grass Look Real
The very obvious fake-looking lawns you see are usually cheap grass, badly laid, or both. Four things separate a convincing lawn from an unconvincing one.
Pile Height
Somewhere between 30mm and 40mm looks the most natural for a domestic garden. Shorter than about 25mm starts to read as sports surface. Longer than around 45mm tends to flatten under foot traffic and look matted rather than lush, particularly in a garden that actually gets used.
Colour Blend
Real grass is never one colour. Good artificial grass uses several shades of green together, often with a brown or beige thatch layer woven underneath to mimic dead growth at the base. A single flat green is the fastest way to spot a cheap product from across the garden.
Yarn Shape and Density
Better products use varied blade shapes and a mix of straight and curled fibres, which stops light reflecting off the surface uniformly. That uniform sheen is what makes a lawn look plastic in bright sun. Density matters too: a denser pile holds itself upright for longer.
The Installation Itself
Even excellent grass looks wrong if the base is uneven, the joins are visible, or the pile direction changes between pieces. All blades should run the same way across the whole lawn, joins should be planned to fall in less visible places, and the edges should be properly secured rather than simply tucked under. A flat, well-compacted base is what stops dips and ripples appearing in year two.
Artificial Grass and Dogs
This is easily the most common question we get, and the honest answer is that artificial grass generally works very well for dogs, with some caveats.
It holds up far better than real turf to the constant traffic that creates worn patches and mud. It cannot be dug up in the way a real lawn can. There is no mud tracked through the house after a wet walk, which for a lot of Cheshire households is the entire reason for considering it.
Urine drains straight through a properly installed lawn into the sub-base below, in the same way rainwater does. It does not kill or discolour artificial grass the way it scorches real turf. Solids are picked up as normal and the area rinsed off.
The caveat is smell. In hot, dry spells, urine residue in the base can start to be noticeable if the lawn is never rinsed, particularly in a small garden with a large dog. This is manageable and entirely predictable, and it comes down to the specification and a little routine.
- Ask for a fully permeable backing. Some cheaper grasses use a backing with limited drainage holes. Fully permeable backing drains across the whole area.
- Use a free-draining sub-base. A clean, angular stone base lets liquid through rather than holding it.
- Rinse periodically. A hose down every week or two in warm weather is usually enough.
- Consider an enzyme cleaner. Pet-specific artificial grass cleaners break down residue rather than masking it, and a bottle lasts a long time.
- Avoid sand infill where dogs are the main users. Non-infill or lightly infilled systems are easier to keep fresh.
Artificial Grass Compared to Real Turf
We install both, and we have no interest in pushing one over the other. They suit different gardens and different households.
| Artificial grass | Real turf | |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | £60 to £100 per m² installed | £15 to £30 per m² supplied and laid |
| Ongoing cost | Minimal, occasional cleaner | Mowing, feed, weed treatment, water, equipment |
| Maintenance | Brush occasionally, rinse, clear leaves | Regular mowing through the growing season |
| Appearance year round | Consistent green in all weather | Varies with season, can brown or go muddy |
| Shaded gardens | Unaffected, stays even | Struggles, patchy growth and moss |
| Hot weather | Surface gets noticeably warm in direct sun | Stays cool, may brown in drought |
| Wildlife and drainage | Permeable, but less biodiverse | Supports insects, worms and soil life |
| Lifespan | Around 15 to 20 years for a good product | Indefinite with care, renewable in patches |
When We Would Suggest Real Turf Instead
If a garden is large and open, gets good light, and nobody minds mowing, real turf is usually the better and far cheaper answer. If you garden for wildlife, or the lawn is a genuine feature of a bigger planting scheme, real grass wins comfortably. And if a garden is very exposed to full afternoon sun and young children play on it barefoot, be aware that artificial surfaces get warm.
When Artificial Grass Genuinely Makes Sense
Shaded gardens where grass has never established. Small courtyards where a mower is impractical. Households with dogs who are tired of mud. Front gardens that are seen constantly but used rarely. Sloping or awkward areas that are difficult to mow safely. Households where nobody has the time or inclination for lawn care and the alternative is a permanently scruffy lawn.
Looking After It
Artificial grass is low maintenance rather than no maintenance, and a small amount of routine keeps it looking right for years.
- Brush against the pile every month or two with a stiff broom to lift the blades, particularly on paths and high-traffic routes.
- Clear leaves and debris in autumn. Left to rot, organic matter feeds moss and weeds on the surface.
- Rinse occasionally, especially where pets use it, and more often in warm dry weather.
- Treat surface weeds if they appear. They root in windblown debris on top, not through a properly laid membrane.
- Keep heat away. Barbecues, fire pits and chimineas will melt the fibres, and it cannot be repaired invisibly. Keep them on a hard surface.
- Move heavy furniture occasionally so the pile does not permanently flatten in the same spot.
A point worth knowing before you commit
Artificial grass is a long-term commitment to that part of the garden. Removing it later means taking up the grass and the sub-base and reinstating topsoil before anything will grow again. It is entirely doable, but it is groundwork rather than an afternoon's job, so it is worth being reasonably sure first.
Common Questions About Artificial Grass
How much does artificial grass cost in Cheshire?
Supplied and professionally installed, most domestic artificial grass in Cheshire costs between £60 and £100 per square metre. A typical 40 square metre rear garden usually falls between £2,600 and £4,000. Access, ground conditions, removal of the existing surface and the complexity of the shape all affect the final figure, so a site survey is needed for an accurate price.
Is artificial grass good for dogs?
Yes, for most households. It withstands heavy use without wearing into mud, cannot be dug up, and urine drains straight through a properly installed system into the sub-base. Choose a fully permeable backing and a free-draining sub-base, rinse it periodically in warm weather, and use an enzyme cleaner designed for artificial grass to prevent any odour building up.
How long does artificial grass last?
A good quality artificial lawn that has been properly installed will usually last around 15 to 20 years. The main factors are the quality of the grass itself, the sub-base underneath, and how much direct sun and traffic it takes. Poorly installed grass on an inadequate base often develops dips, ripples and visible joins within a couple of years regardless of the product used.
Does artificial grass drain properly?
Yes, when installed correctly. The backing is perforated and sits on a compacted, free-draining stone sub-base, so rainwater passes through in the same way it would on a permeable driveway. On heavy clay ground, which is common across Cheshire, additional drainage is sometimes needed underneath before the base is built up.
Can artificial grass be laid on top of an existing lawn?
It should not be. Laying directly onto turf or soil leads to an uneven surface, poor drainage and sinking as the organic material breaks down underneath. A correct installation removes the existing surface, excavates to around 75 to 100mm, and builds back up with a compacted sub-base, laying course, membrane and secured edging.
Does artificial grass get hot in summer?
It gets noticeably warmer than real grass in direct sunlight, because it does not have the natural cooling effect of a living lawn. In most British weather this is not an issue, but during a hot spell a lawn in full sun can be uncomfortable underfoot. A quick rinse with the hose cools it down, and areas of shade or a nearby tree help considerably.
Thinking About Artificial Grass?
The right answer depends entirely on your garden, so the first step is always someone coming out to look at it. We check ground conditions, drainage, access and how much sun the area gets, and we will tell you honestly if we think real turf would serve you better. We install artificial grass across Crewe, Nantwich, Sandbach, Northwich, Chester, Macclesfield and all of Cheshire.
You can see the range and finishes on our artificial grass page, or read our wider guide to garden landscaping in Cheshire if you are planning a larger project. Get in touch and we will arrange a free site survey at a time that suits you.
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