If you have toothache you probably go and see a dentist, not your General Practitioner. If you want gourmet food you seek out a quality delicatessen, and not a supermarket. And if you are looking for antique furniture, you should find a specialist dealer because you will not find what you are looking for at Harvey Norman or Ikea.

Likewise, when you decide to install synthetic grass in your garden then it is not advisable to source out a product from one of those multi-purpose outdoor superstores if you want to be sure that your artificial turf is going to last for a long time and not deteriorate too rapidly. It is not that we have a problem with those outdoor superstores – they are very useful outlets for the myriad things you need around the home for our great Australian outdoor lifestyle – it is just that we firmly believe that synthetic grass is a special product and needs a specialist’ expertise in order to fully understand the benefits of a lush-looking green surface that you can rely on for many years.

There are also lots of small-scale distributors recently who have sprung up as certified suppliers of artificial turf. Oftentimes, these small businesses have emerged from other gardening establishments, and do not endure the competition within the industry, which is not great if you are relying on a product warranty.

We should point out that there are dozens, more likely hundreds of different types of synthetic grass products available in Australia now. But it is important that you are confident in the investments that you make considering that there are also many products available that came from Asian manufacturers, of which is very difficult to verify its quality. Perhaps more concerning – especially if you have children or pets – is that some products do not guarantee its non-toxicity.

Synthetic grass specialists, Green Planet Grass, are proud to state that our products are Australian-made and we guarantee that our artificial turf is 100% free from toxic materials. Your pets and children – as well as the environment – can be safe.

Unless you have a specific purpose, we would also advise you to avoid the synthetic grass square ‘tiles’ that have been appearing in some multi-purpose stores. They are really not a feasible solution for a good quality lawn over the long term.

One of the key reasons for favouring a synthetic grass specialist is that our Australian-made synthetic grass products have been developed with more than 20 years of research and testing. It is also important to bear in mind that Green Planet Grass is dedicated towards producing one main type of product that we pride ourselves on the knowledge that we have built top-quality synthetic grass, and installed in excess of 3,500 lawns across Perth.

Moreover, we have highly skilled and experienced team of installers, who are not only good in garden landscaping but who also have the special skills needed to install synthetic lawns to the highest standards.

If you are looking for quality synthetic lawn that you can be confident in, knowing it will look good for many years then seek out the best synthetic grass specialists in Perth, Western Australia.

Well, autumn was welcomed with a not so unusual heat wave in Perth. Again, you may remember last March when it was etched with countless days of recorded temperature above 30^oCelsius – and many of those days were above 35^oC – and they say autumn is supposed to start on March 1.

The autumn of 2011 followed a hot, dry summer, and even a dry spring before that. Natural grass lawns around Perth and anyone who had kept to their rostered sprinkler days have been rewarded with a parched, brown lawn. There really is not much option unless you ignore water regulations as advised by the Water Corporation and accept a hefty water bill.

It is worth remembering though how the autumn of 2011 followed many months that was wet than the average during the second half of the year. Does this translate into greener natural grass lawns in our suburbs? The proof is there for all to see – with verges, median strips and lawns having taken a battering from several days of just under or just over 40^oC – and no significant rainfall for weeks.

So March is perhaps the month when the colour of your grass lawns says most. If you have a natural grass lawn watered within Water Corporation’s guidelines, chances are that it will not be green at all. The lush natural grass lawns that you see around may have probably been drinking a lot more than the scarce rain that has fallen from the sky. And the lawns that look best at this time of year are most likely to be made with high quality Australian-made synthetic grass lawns like those sold and installed by Green Planet Grass.

The Perth autumn (probably better described as summer part two) is when your synthetic grass lawn will stand out the most. You would not have to waste time worrying about how much watering and maintenance.

March really is a great time to enjoy your lawn too. The second half of the month is being tipped as somewhat less extreme by the weather forecasters and it is a great time to soak up some warmth from the sun with a barbecue and a few beers before winter comes, comfortable in the knowledge that you are not wasting our scarce water resources. You can have plenty of time to enjoy the garden rather than using your spare time on turf maintenance. And your grass will lie as green as any other time of the year.

If you would like more information about Australian-made synthetic grass lawn, contact Perth’s synthetic grass specialists, Green Planet Grass.

Ok, so it’s not a new story and we have certainly blogged about it before but when an internationally renowned expert raises concerns about the way we use water then it would probably be wise to take special notice of.

Professor Robert Glennon is based at the University of Arizona – situated in one of the driest, sunniest states in America so he certainly should know what he’s talking about. He is also the author of several books including: Unquenchable: America’s Water Crisis and What To Do About It, which was published in 2009; and Water Follies: Groundwater Pumping and the Fate of America’s Fresh Waters.

When he visited the country for an engagement at the University of Western Australia, Professor Glennon predicted a water crisis for Perth. He also stated that the amount of water used in this part of the world is not sustainable.

We have said ourselves that natural grass lawns do not provide a viable garden option in Perth over a long period, and it was encouraging enough to read Robert Glennon’s comments as he raised this important issue once again.

Remarking that lush lawns in Perth gardens ‘beggared belief’ given the fragile nature of our water supplies, Professor Glennon made it clear that the city is heading down the road towards serious water supply problems unless we all learn to use it more wisely.

On the subject of lawns in Perth, Professor Glennon, said: “It’s not functional, it’s not being used for kids to play or anything,” he said. “It’s just sitting there looking green and taking water.

“I expected a dry city on the driest continent would be at the cutting edge of water conservation and instead I’m hearing stories about groundwater wells in everyone’s backyard and everyone has a lush lawn.”

Ironically, if you take a walk around some of the streets in Crawley, adjacent to the UWA grounds, you will see quite a number of green lawns that do not take up any water, because they are synthetic grass lawns.

Of course synthetic grass lawns are becoming more popular around Perth. These products are not necessarily chosen by households because they save water but that it certainly has tangible benefits. Pure economics tells us that a commodity in scarce supply is usually expensive. That is not necessarily the case with water in Perth right now but the price is only likely to increase with new desalination facilities to come on line and population pressure on the increase too.

Professor Glennon urged the WA Government to avoid mistakes made in the southern States of USA where they draw too much groundwater as these systems are interconnected. Thus drawing water from one aquifer would only deplete another.

“The amount of rainfall has been decreasing in Perth for a couple of decades and the run-off and recharge into aquifers has also been decreasing, which means the amount of usable water is much less,” he said.

Obviously synthetic grass can only solve part of the water problem facing Perth but increased use of artificial lawn can certainly make a telling contribution.

When it comes to kids, we always want what is best for them. There are only a few who would not do everything they can to make sure their kids are safe.

The great outdoors is one of the things Australia is famous for. Moreover, it really is a great country to grow up in. We are lucky that children in Western Australia can play outside all year round, but we also have to be careful to ensure that our kids are protected – whether it is topping up regularly with sunscreen, making sure they wear a hat on sunny day, or they have suitable play equipment and safe playing surfaces under foot.

We’ve already blogged about the benefits of synthetic grass for kids’ play areas – and there are many of them! First and foremost is the fact that Australian-made synthetic grasses are non-toxic, so there is complete peace of mind whether it is the children or your pets playing on them. Of course, durability and maintenance factors are also important in keeping a safe play area for kids, but there is also the matter of impact that sometimes is overlooked.

Anyone who has spent that much time with kids or toddlers will know that they rarely want to sit still for long. Many youngsters are adventurous when it comes to playing. For most kids, the next tumble or fall is just around the corner. (Herein lays a perfect reason why concrete schoolyards are being replaced across Western Australia and in many other parts of the developed world.) We all know that hard surfaces are unforgiving when you fall and that’s why we recommend installing under-surface shock pads with many of our synthetic grass play surfaces.

Of course, a professionally installed synthetic grass surface provides reasonable cushioning compared to other underfoot options, but shock pads really make a serious difference.

The new Corimbia Estate in Perth’s northern suburbs is one of our recent installations that have used Schmitz sports impact mats underneath the synthetic grass. Green Planet Grass has installed many Multi-play synthetic grass surfaces for schools and childcare centres, but the Corimbia Estate is our first public open space.

The use of these impact mats means that shock absorbing qualities reduces the likelihood of children being hurt or injured when they are at play. Moreover, the design of the mats means they also allow drainage. So even in contoured, dynamic environment, kids are able to enjoy their playtime as much as they want, with less chances of finishing their playtime with a hard bump, a few drops of tears or worse.

The Schmitz impact mats used by Green Planet Grass have been in use across the world for more than ten years with a variety of purposes. Like the synthetic grass itself, the mats are manufactured to the highest quality standards, which are not affected adversely by the weather or other environmental factors.

As parents ourselves, child safety remains paramount for Green Planet Grass.

We often talk about synthetic turf as being a viable alternative to natural grass because of the climate in Western Australia. But when it comes to sports, even in countries where the climate is well-suited to growing lush, green grass – the use of synthetic turf is becoming more and more common.

Two major reasons for the switch to synthetic grass in sports are durability and maintenance – regardless of the climate.

Ask the groundsman at your local sports venue how to keep a top quality sports turf in premium condition and chances are you will not get a short answer. Whether it is soccer, tennis, cricket, bowls, golf or countless other sports that depend on a decent surface, the amount of work that goes into maintaining the turf is considerable.

Natural grass turf usually needs to have ongoing maintenance on a near daily basis to ensure that it is playable week in, week out. On top of that, most grounds keepers have to undertake seasonal work to prevent deterioration. It is a real science to know how to look after the turf – using the correct amount of fertilisers, water and infill as well as knowing the right times to mow and carry out countless other tasks – which most of us would not even think about.

Obviously, that kind of expertise costs a lot of money. On the other hand, the latest technology in artificial turf, which requires far less maintenance and being far less susceptible to the extremes of the weather, soon starts to save councils and clubs.

Of course, sports surfaces also take a serious pounding too. They take perhaps more stress than any other type of turf and therein lies another vital benefit of synthetic grass – it stands up to the rigours of dozens of feet twisting, turning, jumping and landing on a near constant basis, without losing performance or quality.

It is not surprising that Australian councils and sports clubs are turning to synthetic turf when you consider the scarcity of water and the intensity of sunlight. Nonetheless, it is surprising perhaps that we are following in the footsteps of those in the USA and Europe. The States have certainly been leading the way in synthetic sports turf for many years but the trend is really growing in Europe recently.

Many of the top soccer clubs in Europe now have the latest generation of artificial pitches including those in Italy’s Serie A competition. Synthetic turf has also been used in competitive international matches in Europe.

In England, ‘plastic pitches’ were ridiculed until recently, with long memories of a handful of professional football clubs using artificial turf that’s light years away from the world’s current crop of premium synthetic sports pitches.

Even though the temperate climatic conditions are ideal for growing grass in the UK, many municipal pitches have turned to synthetic grass because of reduced maintenance costs and the increased usability (synthetic pitches don’t get worn out or suffer from muddy, unplayable, patches after prolonged wet weather conditions).

In addition to public facilities, the clamour for artificial turf pitches is growing amongst professional clubs in England too. Football League clubs Wycombe Wanderers and Accrington Stanley have voiced a desire to install the latest generation of artificial turf and former Wales international Mark Hughes has also voiced his support, having seen such pitches used first hand.

With top clubs and sports facilities catering for the masses in Europe turning to synthetic grass in numbers then you can expect more of the same in Australia.

You may already have read about our growing reputation for supplying some of the best and most modern synthetic sports surfaces in Western Australia. We are proud of the various high performance facilities that we have installed and we have just broadened the Green Planet Grass repertoire to include lawn bowls, which is of course very popular across Australia.

Any bowls enthusiast will tell you that the quality of the surface is paramount to ensure reliable and consistent performance, and the two new bowling greens we are preparing to install in York will be made to exacting standards.

York is one of Western Australia’s oldest in-land settlements but the town is set to have one of the newest sport complexes anywhere in this vast state. The Forrest Oval Sport and Recreation Precinct is already home to many sports clubs and associations, but the Shire of York wants a state of the art facility that will cater to a growing population.

Two key findings of the local authority’s assessment of sports and recreation needs in the shire were the need for new, synthetic tennis courts and a realignment of the existing bowling greens to accommodate bowls adjacent to the club rooms.

Maintenance was a major factor in both of these aspects of the development, particularly the bowling greens, with natural grass surfaces very difficult to maintain in our hot, dry climate.

Average daily maximum temperatures in York – 100km inland from Perth – exceed 30 degrees centigrade between December and March, so the country town is considerably hotter than the state capital.

Another interesting fact from the Bureau of Meteorology also tells us that York’s annual rainfall is just 407mm – that’s 55 per cent of the 742mm mean received in Perth on a yearly basis. And we think water is scarce in the metro area!

Of course grass struggles to grow in such conditions, even when it is extensively irrigated so synthetic grass is a sensible choice. Once the Green Planet Grass bowling greens are installed, the Shire of York can expect significantly reduced maintenance costs. Moreover, there won’t be any need for often costly remedial works for worn-out patchy turf that only suffers in the heat of a long WA summer. That should mean both improved facilities and less of a dent in the ratepayers’ pockets in the long run.

But another reason the Shire of York opted for synthetic grass bowling greens is that they can take a much higher amount of traffic (or greater usage capacity) than natural grass greens, so that means more people would get to play more bowls – a great outcome all-year round.

Green Planet Grass will be installing two 40m x 40m bowling greens, each with seven rinks, at the Forrest Oval complex and these should be completed during the early part of 2012. We oversee every stage of the job from design through construction to installation and the same is true of the eight synthetic grass tennis courts that we will be installing on the same site.

Keep your eyes peeled for some photos of our first bowling greens!

You know the traditional Norwegian Spruce types that seem to thrive in northern Europe, particularly if there is likely to be lots of snow and ice throughout the winter – when Christmas takes place in the northern hemisphere.

Believe it or not, there are only few Christmas tree farms around Perth, notably in the northern and northeastern suburbs. Nevertheless, as far as we are aware, there is rarely any snow and a desert is not usually the most suitable place to grow most Christmas tree species.

We have nothing against natural Christmas trees of course. They certainly make a lovely addition for a traditional Christmas feel in anyone’s home. Apart from the fact that all too often you get the lovely fragrant tree home and it introduces a wide range of bugs into your lounge room. Or, even less appealing as it sheds its pine needles ten days before Christmas, leaving you with a spindly skeleton of a tree, which Father Christmas is probably not going to be impressed with when he comes to drop off your presents on a sweltering December night.

Most of us have probably become used to having a synthetic Christmas tree over the past ten to twenty years – if not longer. But some people will remember that when fake Christmas trees emerged onto the market they weren’t particularly well thought of.

Now we realise that they are much more practical and there is no shame in popping down to one of the major stores to pick one up. They’re easy to assemble, usually look pretty realistic and are easy to pack away again, stick them in the garage and they’re in just as good condition when you unpack them eleven months later. There is also very little danger of being spiked by the pine needles, or a constant need to vacuum up what has fallen off the branches.

Well, there’s not much difference when it comes to lawn. We’re probably early in the acceptance stages for some people who like their natural lawn. But many people are realising that premium synthetic grass looks just as good, if not better, than natural lawn.

Then there is the dawn of realisation that traditional grass lawns were never a very good idea for Western Australia anyway – the climate is just too hot and dry to sustain a lawn without using copious amounts of water, which is clearly scarce in this environment.

If you’ve got friends doubting the merits of artificial turf then maybe it’s time to show them what a premium Australian-made lawn from the synthetic grass specialists is all about. We believe the finished, professionally installed product speaks for itself, which is why we list installations on our website for all to see – generally, they look even better than the photos.

In addition, like our friend, the synthetic Christmas tree, there is less maintenance required, no need for water and it will save you money over its long life span.

Perth is waking up to the considerable benefits of synthetic grass and what better time to get your new lawn installed than before Christmas – then you can really enjoy the holidays.

While we regularly campaign for synthetic grass for its low maintenance costs compared to your traditional natural grass lawns, it is not suffice to say that it is ‘zero maintenance’.

To keep your synthetic lawn in top condition and the envy of your neighbours, it is highly recommended that you must be keen in handling your artificial grass lawns with minimal yet regular maintenance efforts.

So, what do you need to do to keep your lawn looking great? Well, start following a regular monthly maintenance schedule. Overlooking the importance of maintaining your synthetic grass lawn does not warrant our claim, thus it would be wise to keep it on top of your regular maintenance list to enjoy fully your investment.

Of course, there are numerous types of synthetic grass products, and Green Planet Grass recommends that high traffic or ‘interactive’ surfaces should be regularly maintained such that it lasts longer and retain the lustre of the grass blades. Artificial grass products, which are not subjected to harsh usage such as those in large landscaped areas, require lesser regular care.

Early months of your new lawn

Professional installation of your synthetic grass lawn will ensure an even distribution of infill materials over the entire surface but it is likely to take two to three months to reach its optimum condition considering that the materials only fully settle down by then. Regular light grooming while the infill materials are slowly penetrating through the grass blades would be far more recommendable than with heavy brushing.

Several Green Planet Grass products do not need any infill materials; however, it is advisable to brush the grass blades every so often to keep the blades rigid, and do it with a soft bristle.

Surface brushing

The infill materials sometimes spring out from the pile of grass. You only need to lightly brush through the blades to push it back down. This is required n order to keep the top grass fibres upright.

Interactive surfaces should be brushed regularly. It is vital that the synthetic blades are erect since the softer fibres along the surface of the grass blades are highly susceptible to tough conditions. Green Planet Grass recommends brushing at least once every month and in different directions.

On the other hand, for landscaped lawns, you only need to brush through the blades if you are getting rid of other debris such as pet poop, or for controlling weeds.

Keeping it clean

Airborne contaminants such as dust and pollen are best dealt with by natural rainfall. In areas where rain is scarce – which can often be the case in Perth– occasional water flush is beneficial to clean fibres. For lightly soiled areas it may be necessary to sponge mop with a 5% solution of mild household detergent in warm water, followed by a thorough rinsing with warm water. For heavily soiled areas, a solution of household detergent/disinfectant in warm water followed by a thorough rinsing with warm water should be used.

Removing debris

Undesirable debris should also be cleaned away from your grass surface, especially for heavily used lawns, at least once a month.

It would be more effective if you could do it manually with a brush. This will stop any organic material from developing into something more obstructive, which in turn could prove to be detrimental to the grass drainage system and further encourage growth of other organic materials.

While those less likely used synthetic lawns need less attention in this respect, but you still have to remove any organic materials such as dried leaves when necessary, and clearing it quarterly.

Weeds and surface vegetation

You may also use a moss or weed killer annually for all your synthetic grass products in order to avoid any accumulation of weeds and other vegetation. You should use a systematic water-based weed killer– if you are not sure what to use, ask your synthetic grass specialist. As the vegetation dies down, you will have to remove the decaying materials (make sure to take out the roots as well). For moss build-up, you may simply sweep the remnants.

Stain removal

The first rule here is to be prompt. Remove all solid or paste-like deposits with a spatula or table knife, and blot with excessive liquid paper towels and a clean cloth. While synthetic turf is highly resistant to staining, there are a sophisticated group of components combined to produce the final product. Some cleaning agents that are suitable for the fibres may be harmful to other components. For guidance on stain removal consult your Green Planet Grass specialist.

Animal faeces

Synthetic grass is great for dogs and other pets as it is safe, but it cannot be dug by busy paws. Nevertheless, animal faeces should be removed manually as soon as possible, and the area must be washed down with hot water mixed with household cleaning agent. You can also neutralise the faeces with a mixture of white distilled vinegar in equal amounts of water. Flush thoroughly after application.

The above are a few guidelines that should keep your lawn in great condition with minimal effort but if you have a question that’s not covered here please get in touch at info@greenplanetgrass.com.au

All too often we find that once we have our own home it brings a lot of hassle in keeping the place well maintained and in good condition. Many of us leave our parents and rent your own pad for a while, maybe with a mate or partner, and if we can save enough the Aussie dream is often to have our own place. But while you’re renting, the maintenance rarely seems to be an issue, especially if there is a grounds keeper or mower service provided as part of the letting.

What many of us find is that once we have our own place, along with a mortgage hanging around our neck, a whole lot more work comes with maintaining the place – and therefore you have to invest time and money in keeping your home up from scratch. This is especially true when it comes to garden and lawns.

Traditional lawns in Perth require extensive maintenance to keep them in prime condition – enough water through your reticulation (but not too much to attract the attention of the Water Corporation inspectors), action on weeds when they crop up, enriching with fertiliser in the autumn and spring and application of wetting agents before heavy rain. And that’s without kids or dogs who may put large patches in your grass or dig big holes in it!

For many people it is a real effort to keep the lawn in the kind of condition in which you can really enjoy it and they find they’ve spent nearly all their time making the lawn look perfect and don’t have time to actually relax and enjoy it themselves. This is one of the main reasons people in Perth choose to install synthetic grass in the first place and why not?

Most of us spend enough time working hard all week in our day jobs to not want to spend most of the weekend and evenings working just as hard over a patch of grass. Installing synthetic grass means you really can sit back and enjoy your weekends. Yes, there are benefits of saving water and money over the long term, but for many what is most precious is saving time.

We only live once so let’s enjoy our spare time, minimise garden maintenance and spend more time with family and friends without having to worry about what our lawn looks like – because with synthetic grass it is bound to look good, even with minimal maintenance. Learn to make an art of relaxing and enjoy your garden as you should with synthetic grass.

Okay, so one of the main reasons that synthetic grass is a good option for households in Perth is the lack of rainfall. But when it does rain there can be additional reasons to seek out sustainable artificial turf. It has been unseasonably wet recently (we did not get any rain at all in November 2010) but this wet winter and spring has thrown up some notable problems for those with traditional lawns – weeds.

In some suburbs rogue grasses (not the couch or buffalo that supposed to be in your lawn but imposter species) have sprung up rapidly to significant heights. Moreover, that has not to mention the broad range of other undesirable species that can invade neat blades of grass that so many spend painstaking hours tending over.

Some of the broad-leaved species smother the grass, others, with spidery limbs reach out and compete with the intended cover at an alarming rate too. It can be a battle to keep a natural lawn looking good through all seasons, even when the weather is favourable for growth. Some Perth households will not have felt the need to put their sprinklers on yet but many will have had to delve into their lawns to remove unwanted weeds.

There are usually two approaches to resolving such issues. The first involves plenty of hard toil, down on hands and knees with a small hand fork or similar weed extracting tool and probably getting a stiff back, sore knees or some other physical ailment. The second inevitably sees home owners reach for the weed killer, which can be effective but may also cause damage to the very grass you are trying to preserve. Of course, most weed killers are toxic so pet owners and those with young children have to be very careful how they use these products. Therefore, there is never an easy approach to weeds.

But what we do know is that synthetic grass can put a stop to the difficulties of weeds on your lawn. Admittedly, synthetic grass is not immune to weeds so thorough preparation prior to installation is important but the few plants that can emerge are easily removed in comparison to natural lawn – your synthetic grass specialist can give you advice on the best way to maintain your lawn. Minimal maintenance is a major benefit of synthetic grass.

There is no need to water synthetic lawn, no need for pesticides (weed killers), no need for fertilisers and no need for getting down on your hands and knees for several hours to eliminate undesirables – a synthetic grass lawn is there to enjoy, whatever the weather and taking away the maintenance is, for many, one of the strongest reasons to choose synthetic grass in the first place.